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HiSTOKIAN’S edition. 


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QUARTER CENTURY 

REUNION 


OF THE 



/O 


CLASS OF 

t . 



-AT- 

CANONSBURG AND WASHINGTON, PA., 


.Tune 19th and 20th. 1883. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

A. T. ZEISING A CO., Steam-Power Printers, 402-4-6 Race Street. 
1884. 






































QUARTER CENTURY 


RE-TJNION 


OF THE 



CLASS OF 


(eX, 



-AT- 


CANONSRURG AND WASHINGTON, PA., 

> ; >*» ; ’ N , J >> >> 5 \ » V \ , ! '» > 

V >J ,5 

June 1>9;th and 20th, 13SB. 

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PHILADELPHIA: 

A. T. ZEISIISiG & CO., Steam-Power Printers, 402-4-6 Race Street. 

1884. 

















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CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Note by Publishing Committee, .... 5 

Roll of the Class of 1858, .... 7 

Report of the Re-union, by Rev. Wm. M. Taylor, 10 
Class History, by Rev. Francis J. Collier, . 13 

Address, by Col. H. R. Hill, .... 120 









er 


NOTE. 


On January 11th, 1882, Rev. S. H. Holliday wrote to a friend as 
follows: “ Recently I have met a number of our college classmates, and 
all expressed a desire to have a re-union in 1883—twenty-five years 
after graduation.” On the 20th of the same month, he wrote that he 
had arranged with Col. J. I. Nevin, Editor of the Pittsburgh Leader , 
for a preliminary meeting of the class at his office, on Tuesday, February 
21st, 1882. The day following that meeting, he wrote again, saying that 
it was decided to have a re-union at Canonsburg, on the first Wednesday 
of August, 1883, and that Rev. F. J. Collier had been appointed Histo¬ 
rian ; Col. H. R. Hill, Orator; and Rev. H. A. Thompson, D.D., Poet. 
Dr. Thompson declined the appointment; Mr. Collier and Col. Hill 
accepted. Notice being given, another meeting was held at the Leader 
Office, on Tuesday, February 20th, 1883, when it was resolved that the 
re-union should take place at the Commencement of Washington and 
Jefferson College, in June, 1883, and that there should be a class ban¬ 
quet at Canonsburg at that time. Prof. S. J. Craighead, Rev. D. J. 
Irwin, and Rev. J. S. Woodburn were appointed a committee to make 
arrangements for the banquet. The time fixed by the committee was 
Tuesday evening, June 19th, 1883. 

Francis J. Collier, 
Philip H. Mowry, 

Loyal Y. Graham, 

Committee on Publication. 









CLASS LOLL, 1883 


PAGE. 


William L. Alden, Esq., Times Editorial Room, New York, 

21 

Rev. William Alexander, D. D., 

Batavia, Cal., 

22 

Rev. Samuel C. Alexander, 

Dry Run, Pa., 

23 

Hugh A. Barclay, 

Weston, Neb., 

25 

Rev. James S. Barr, D. D., 

Canonsburg, Pa., 

26 

Rev. Francis J. Collier, 

Downingtown, Pa., . 

27 

Rev. John G. Condit, 

Fairfield, Iowa, 

29 

Rev. William F. Cowden, 

Lexington, Ky., 

31 

Prof. S. Judson Craighead, 

Elder’s Ridge, Pa., 

32 

Prof. David k. Cully, 

Sedalia, Mo., . 

33 

Joseph H. Cunningham, Esq., 

Bradford, Pa., 

34 

Rev. William Dickson, D. D.,^ 

Canfield, Ohio, 

34 

Rev. Hugh H. Dobbins, 

Calistoga, Cal., . 

35 

*Rev. James H. Donaldson, 

. 

37 

Hon. William B. Dunlap, 

West Bridgewater, Pa., 

38 

Rev. John Ewing, D. D., 

Plymouth, Pa., 

39 

Samuel Fulton, D. D. S., 

Washington, Pa., 

41 

Rev. Samuel Gamble, 

Guilderland Centre, N. Y., 

41 

Rev. Loyal Y. Graham, 

Philadelphia, Pa., 

43 

* A. W. H. H. Hawkins, M. D., 


44 

Rev. Dwight B. Hervey, 

Granville, Ohio, . 

45 

Col. Harrington R. Hill, 

East Liverpool, Ohio, 

46 

Rev. James F. Holcomb, 

Allahabad, India, 

47 

Rev. Samuel H. Holliday, 

Robella, Pa., . 

50 

Rev. Washington A. Hooper, 

New Providence, N. J., 

51 

Rev. Samuel A. Hughes, 

Parker’s Landing, Pa., 

52 

* Marshall M. Hultz, M. D., 


53 

Robert T. Hunt, Esq., 

Pittsburgh, Pa., 

54 

Rev. D. Johnston Irwin, 

Ebenezer, Pa., 

55 


7 


8 


CLASS ROLL, 


Hon. George A. Jenks, 

Rev. William P. Johnston, 

* Addison Jones, 

Archie B. Kelly, Esq., 

Alfred Kerr, Esq., 

Rev. Newell S. Lowrie, 

John McClaren, Esq., 

John C. McCombs, Esq., 
Joseph H. McConahy, Esq., 
Silas McCormick, Esq., 

* Capt. Charles W. McHenry, 
Joseph L. Mcllvaine, Esq., 
*John 0. McKown, Esq., . 

* Rev. Milton McMillin, 

* Thomas I. McNite, . 

Rev. John W. Martin, 
*Mordecai B. Massey, Esq., 
Nathan A. Means, Esq., 

* James R. Moore, M. D., 

Rev. Philip H. Mowry, D. D., 
Rev. J. Harvey Nesbitt, 

Col. John I. Nevin, 

* Samuel H. Niblock, 

* James D. Noble, M. D., 
Grier C. Orr, Esq., 

* Robert B. Patterson, Esq., 

* Rev. George Pauli, . 

Edie S. Pollock, Esq., 

Rev. F. J. C. Schneider, 

Prof. John Simpson, 

Francis M. Slemons, M. D., 
Rev. Nelson H. Smith, 

Joseph N. Smith, Esq., 

Rev./John W. Sproull, 
William A. Starrett, Esq., 
Prof. James A. Stewart, 


PAGE. 


Brookville, Pa., 

. 56 

Beaver Falls, Pa., 

58 


. 59 

Tionesta, Pa., 

61 

Pittsburgh, Pa., 

. 62 

Gorham, N. Y., . 

63 

Pittsburgh, Pa., 

. 64 

Pittsburgh, Pa., . 

65 

Moravia, Pa., . 

. 66 

Irwin, Pa., . 

6T 

. . . . 

. 67 

New Philadelphia, Ohio, 

69 


71 


. 72 


74 

North Salem, Ohio, 

74 

. 

75 

Akron, Ohio, . 

, 76 


77 

Chester, Pa., . 

. 80 

Owensboro, Ky., 

81 

Pittsburgh, Pa., 

. 82 

. 

84 


. 85 

Kittanning, Pa., . 

86 


. 87 


90 

Washington, I). C., . 

. 95 

San Paulo, Brazil, 

96 

Mansfield, Ohio, 

. 98 

Salisbury, Md., . 

99 

Gainesville, Ga., 

. 100 

Charleston, W. Va., 

101 

Allegheny, Pa., 

. 102 

Chicago, Ill., 

102 

Hollidaysburg, Pa., . 

. 103 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE, 1858. 9 

PAGE. 

Rev. Robert C. Stewart, Tupper’s Plains, Ohio, 105 

Rev. William M. Taylor, Mount Jackson, Pa., . 106 

* John Francis Templeton, Esq., ..... 107 

Rev. Henry A. Thompson, D.D., Westerville, Ohio, . . 110 

* Edward N. Todd, Esq.,.112 

Rev. Charles DeWitt Trumbull, Morning Sun, Iowa, . 113 

Capt. Robert H. White, M. D., West Point, N. Y., . . 114 

Rev. James S. Woodburn, Livermore, Pa., . . 115 


* Deceased. 


SECRETARY’S REPORT OF THE 
CEASS RE-UNION. 


Twenty-five years after graduation, the Class of 1858 met in 
Providence Hall, Canonsburg, Pa., June 19th, 1883, at 7 P. M. 
Alfred Kerr, Esq., was called to the Chair; Rev. William M. 
Taylor was appointed Secretary. 

The Committee of Arrangements, consisting of Prof. S. J. 
Craighead, Rev. D. J. Irwin, Rev. J. S. Woodburn, reported. 
Rev. F. J. Collier made a report of moneys received by him as 
Historian. A committee was appointed to confer with a like 
committee of the Washington Class of 1858, in regard to the 
conjoint publication of the Class histories. Committee: Rev. F. 
J. Collier, Rev. P. II. Mowry, D. D., and Rev. L. Y. Graham. 

At eight o’clock, a large number of the people of Canonsburg 
were assembled to participate in the exercises of the evening. 
Rev. P. H. Mowry, D. D., was called upon to render thanks to 
Almighty God, and to invoke His blessing. The Chairman in¬ 
troduced Rev. F. J. Collier, who proceeded to read the history of 
the Class. After the Historian had read an hour, the Brown 
brothers and classmate, Col. J. I. Nevin, favored the audience with 
a spirited song, entitled, “Jefferson, 0, Jefferson.” The history 
was then resumed. At 10 P. M., it was decided to postpone the 
further reading of the history until 2.30 P. M., to-morrow, at 
Washington. By request, the Brown brothers and Col. Nevin 
sang a closing song, “Auld Lang Syne.” 

Upon adjournment, the Class repaired to the Sherman House. 
There a banquet was prepared, by order of the Committee of Ar¬ 
rangements, which was greatly enjoyed. During this feast, many 
amusing incidents of college days were related. All seemed to 


10 



secretary’s report of the re-union. 11 

be college boys once more, and amid the scenes of college life. 
Rev. D. J. Irwin presided at the banquet. Post-prandial speeches 
were made by Messrs. Jenks, Taylor, Holliday, Thompson, Cow- 
den, Kerr, Graham and Nevin. Rev. D. J. Irwin read a letter 
from our old College President, Dr. Joseph Alden. Prof. Craig¬ 
head read letters from a number of classmates, expressing their 
regrets that they were not able to be present at the re-union. 
The committee was instructed to answer Dr. Alden’s letter, and 
convey to him the best wishes of the Class of 1858. 

The next morning, June 20th, the Class went over to Wash¬ 
ington. In the forenoon, they attended in a body, the Com¬ 
mencement exercises of the Washington and Jefferson Class of 
1883. At 1 P. M., they enjoyed, with a company of three or 
four hundred, the Alumni dinner. 

At 2.30 P. M., the Class retired from the dining-room to Philo- 
Union Hall, to listen to the rest of the history, beginning where 
the Historian left off at Canonsburg, the preceding evening. The 
history was finished at 4 P. M. 

The next exercise was the Class oration by Col. H. R. Hill. 
After its delivery, this oration was referred to the committee for 
publication, along with the Class history. Both the history and 
the oration were prepared with great care. They were highly 
appreciated by all who heard them, and the hearty thanks of the 
Class were tendered to Rev. F. J. Collier and Col. Hill. 

Prof. Samuel Jones was present and invited to address the 
Class. Perhaps nothing in our exercises, from first to last, brought 
back to our minds old college days more vividly than the voice, 
words and manner of this venerable professor. 

The Class of 1858 consisted of seventy-three members. It was 
the largest class ever graduated by old Jefferson, or any other 
college, so far as our knowledge goes, west of the Allegheny 
Mountains. The following twenty-six of this number were pre¬ 
sent at the re-union: 

James S. Barr, Francis J. Collier, Wm. F. Cowden, S. J. Craig¬ 
head, Samuel Fulton, L. Y. Graham, H. R. Hill, S. H. Holliday, 
D. J. Irwin, Geo. A. Jenks, Wm. P. Johnston, A. B. Kelly, 
Alfred Kerr, J. C. McCombs, J. H. McConahy, J. L. Mcllvaine, 


12 secretary’s report of the re-union. 

J. W. Martin, N. A. Means, P. H. Mowry, J. I. Nevin, G. C. 
Orr, E. S. Pollock, John Simpson, Wm. M. Taylor, II. A. 
Thompson, and J. S. Woodburn. 

It was resolved to hold our next re-union in ten years. Dr. H. 
A. Thompson, Hon. Geo. A. Jenks and Col. J. I. Nevin were 
appointed a committee to make arrangements at the proper time. 

The Secretary was requested to have the proceedings of our 
re-union published in the Pittsburgh Leader. It was also directed 
that a copy of the paper containing the same be sent to every 
member of our class. 

After prayer by Rev. F. J. Collier, the re-union, exercises 
closed. 

Wm. M. Taylor, 

Secretary. 


u Pittsburgh Leader ,” June 27, 1883. 


HISTORY 

OP THE 

CLASS OF 1858, JEFFERSON COLLEGE, 

CANONSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, 

BY 

RET. FRABOIS J. COLLIER, 

DOWNINGTOWN, PA. 

June, 1883. 


Classmates: 

Dear old Jefferson College comes into view once more. 
With mingled feelings of joy, gratitude and sadness, we have 
returned, after fin absence of twenty-five years, to renew our 
friendship and rehearse our experience; to gaze upon the college 
buildings that stand on the hill-side at Canonsburg; to enter 
rooms, halls and chapel once 'filled with noisy, restless students; 
to gather around the pump near the college door, and drink of 
its pure, cool water; to lie down on the grass under the shady 
trees of the campus; to tread again familiar "walks ; to hear the 
sound of the hell that called us to morning prayers and Sunday 
worship and daily tasks, and whose welcome ring often gave us 
liberty; to think of the solemn seasons of revival, and of those 
sad occasions when fellow-students and classmates were removed 
from us by death; to go through the streets and into the stores 
and dwellings of the college town; to look old friends in the face, 
take them by the hand, and talk of pleasures past; to behold the 
places where beloved professors lived; and to visit the graves of 
the fondly remembered dead. 

Gathered here, we recall the scenes and incidents of other 
days—the meetings and partings; the anxious recitations; the 
exciting contests; the joyous commencements; the grand proces¬ 
sions and celebrations; the pushing and crowding in entry and on 
stairway as class encountered class; the rivalries of literary and 


13 



14 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


secret societies; the eager pursuit of new candidates for initiation ; 
the strife for offices and honors; the heated discussions, especially 
upon the subject of slavery; the mysterious appearance of College 
papers; the moonlight serenades; the senior parties, and the dis¬ 
appointment sometimes caused by undergraduates stealing the 
refreshments; the terrible threats made by the President against 
offenders; the walks and drives with one another and with maidens 
fair; the impatient waiting for meals, for mails, for hacks and 
stages; the rush for books at the Franklin and Philo Libraries; 
the boisterous gatherings at Fort Job, Fort Soup, Fort Death, 
Fort Hunt, Fort Black, and in Brick Row; the winter coasting 
down “Sheep Hill;” the summer bathing in 'Chartiers; the 
treating to oysters, ice cream, and strawberries at John Brown’s 
saloon; the sports and games in room and field; and, not to be 
forgotten, the smiling girls, who stepped forth two and two 
from the portals of Olome, on whom we gazed with love and 
admiration. 

We are back again, but not all. When we stood to receive our 
diplomas in Providence Hall, Canonsburg, on Wednesday, the 
4th of August, 1858, we numbered seventy-three. Our number 
is much less to-day. Some living in. foreign lands or in distant 
parts of our own great country, some lacking the means to make 
the journey, and others kept at home by sickness or business en¬ 
gagements, send greetings to their classmates and express their 
sincere regrets that they cannot be with us now. Others we have 
seen for the last time on the earth. In widely separated graves, 
many of our dear companions, choice' young men, are resting until 
the resurrection. Donaldson reposes at Elder’s Ridge, Pa.; 
Hawkins, at Ten Mile, Washington County, Pa.; Hultz, at St. 
Clair Cemetery, Allegheny County, Pa.; Jones, at Pittsburgh, 
Pa.; McHenry, at Janesville, Wis.; McKown, at Brownsville, 
Ark.; McMillin, at Mount Gilead, Ohio; McNite, at Shirleys- 
burg, Pa.; Massey, at Huntingdon, Pa. ; Moore, at Natchez, 
Miss.; Niblock, at Landisburg Pa.; Noble, at Pattonsville, Pa.; 
Patterson, at Washington, Pa.; Pauli, at Corisco, on the western 
coast of Africa; Templeton, at Vicksburg, Miss.; and Todd, at 
Salisbury, Md. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


15 


We meet once more, but how great the changes that have taken 
place since we left Canonsburg a quarter of a century ago ! We 
arrived, not by stages over the hilly turnpike, but by railway train 
running swiftly through the rich and beautiful valley of Char- 
tiers. The college boys have become men, and some are fathers 
of sons and daughters as old as we were then. In appearance 
we are so changed that we can scarcely recognize one another. 
A new generation has arisen. We are strangers to many of the 
people, and they to us. Jefferson College, the pride of Canons¬ 
burg, is gone. Upon the old buildings is written, Ichabod—the 
glory is departed. Jefferson College lives in union with Wash¬ 
ington, and in the memory and affection of hundreds of her 
Alumni. On the streets of the classic town, once frequented by 
students from many States, we see men from the coal mines, the 
keg, broom and woolen factories, the ice houses, the rolling and 
planing mills, and we observe here and there new houses that 
have been erected for their accommodation. The steam whistles 
and clouds of smoke indicate that Canonsburg has awakened to a 
life of industry and enterprise. 

Seeing the places where they once lived, we naturally make 
inquiry about the members of the College Faculty. We learn 
that Dr. A. B. Brown, the honored President, the eloquent 
preacher and accomplished scholar, removed to his farm, a few 
miles east of Canonsburg, where he died, September 8th, 1863, 
after a long illness. He had been pastor of Centre Presbyterian 
Church, in Peters Township, Washington County, Pa., and in the 
graveyard of that church he was buried, and there a monument 
was erected to his memory by the congregation. 

The aged and beloved Dr. William Smith, Professor of Greek, 
so mild, and good and indulgent, died at Canonsburg, July 17th, 
1878, having been prostrated a few days before by the heat while 
visiting the inmates of the County Poor House. Your histo¬ 
rian was with him in his last illness, and took part in his 
funeral services, which were held in Miller’s Bun Presbyte¬ 
rian Church, where he had preached for more than fifty years. 
His body rests among the graves of his people. He was 84 
years of age. 


16 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Dr. Aaron Williams, the learned and kind-hearted Professor 
of Latin, died at Leetsdale, Pa., December 31, 18T8, at the age of 
71. At the time of his death he was pastor of Springdale Church 
in the Presbytery of Allegheny. 

General John Fraser, the brilliant and enthusiastic Professor of 
Mathematics, as we learn from General James A. Beaver, entered 
the Union Army, in August, 1862, as Captain of a company 
composed largely of students of Jefferson College; at Harris¬ 
burg was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment into which 
his company was put,—the 140th Reg. Pa. yols.; served with it 
in the 1st Division, Second Corps, of the Army of the Potomac; 
was appointed Colonel of the regiment after the death of Colonel 
Roberts, of Beaver Co., who was killed at Gettysburg. Was 
wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness, and again at Spott- 
sylvania; was captured June 22nd, 1864, and confined for several 
months in Southern prisons; and near the close of the war, was 
appointed Brevet Brigadier General by the President. After the 
war, he was Professor of Mathematics in the Pennsylvania Agri¬ 
cultural College, and, subsequently, its President for two years. 
He removed to Kansas and became the President of the State 
University, and afterwards was the Superintendent of Public In¬ 
struction. While in Kansas he married. He returned to Penn¬ 
sylvania, and while serving as Professor in the Western University 
at Pittsburgh, died of small-pox in Allegheny, on Tuesday, June 
4th, 1878, at the age of 55. A very interesting and ably written 
obituary of General Fraser, appeared in the personal column of 
the Presbyterian Banner , June 12th, 1878. 

Rev. Robt. P. Kennedy, the amiable Tutor, who taught us in 
mathematics, after the resignation of Prof. Patterson, during our 
Freshman year, died at Faulkland, Delaware, December 3rd, 1881, 
at the age of 50. He was the esteemed pastor of Red Clay Creek 
Church, in the Presbytery of New Castle. 

Dr. John B. Clark, Professor of Hebrew, was a Colonel in the 
Union Army, and before and after the war, was pastor of the 
Second United Presbyterian Church, in the city of Allegheny, 
where he died, January 13th, 1872. He was a good, intelligent, 
and courageous man. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


IT 


The venerable Dr. Joseph Alden, formerly President of Jeffer¬ 
son College, having served thirteen years as Principal of the New 
York State Normal School, is now living in retirement at Albany, 
N. Y. He is ranked among the chief of American educators. 

For many years, Prof. Robert Patterson has been one of the 
editors of the Presbyterian Banner , published at Pittsburgh. In 
him we see rare intellectual ability united with great modesty and 
kindness. 

Prof. Samuel Jones, having accomplished a good work in behalf 
of theistic science, now in the autumn of his life, resides at Wash¬ 
ington, Pa., gratefully remembered by his numerous pupils. 

Dr. Alonzo Linn, faithful and efficient, is Professor of Latin, in 
Washington and Jefferson College. 

Dr. Wm. Ewing, an accomplished teacher, is Principal of Jeff¬ 
erson Academy, at Canonsburg. 

Dr. M. B. Riddle, eminent for his linguistic attainments, is a 
Professor in the Theological Seminary of the Congregational 
Church, at Hartford, Conn. 

We inquire about the good men who served as Trustees of Jeff¬ 
erson College during our course, and we learn that Dr. Wm. 
Jeffery, Dr. Geo. Marshall, Dr. John T. Pressly, Dr. Jas. Sloan, 
Dr. Jas. Alexander, Hon. Jas. Gordon, John Hays, Wm Park, 
Daniel Houston, Wm. McDaniel, John Reed, Benj. Williams, 
and Thos. Nicholson have been removed by death; and that the 
only surviving members of the Board are Dr. A. T. McGill, Dr. 
W. M. Paxton, Dr. W. M. McElwee, Hon. J. K. Moorhead, 
Hon. Jas. P. Sterrett, Jas. McCullough, and Wm. S. Calohan. 

We miss some of the old citizens of Canonsburg. John E. Black, 
the Treasurer of the College, Craig Ritchie, Benj. South, Wm. 
McNary, Geo. Kirk, Samuel Cochran, and Dr. John Weaver are 
among the dead. 

While we were at college, we lost by death, out of our class, 
G. Harry McGinnes, of Canonsburg; Charles David Riddle, of 
Martinsburg, Va.; and Wm. A. Rea, of Big Spring, Pa. Their 
departure made serious, deep, and lasting impressions upon our 
minds. 

Among the important events that happened during our course, 
may be mentioned the removal of Prof. Robt. Patterson, to Oak- 


18 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


land College, Mississippi, in 1854, and the presentation of a silver 
tea set to him by the students ; the retirement of Dr. A. B. 
Brown from the Presidency in 1856, and the inauguration of Dr. 
Joseph Alden as his successor; the ever to be remembered revival 
meetings, conducted by the venerable and beloved Dr. Wm. S. 
Plumer, of the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny; the 
purchase of the telescope, and the erection of a plain board obser¬ 
vatory on the hill near Fort Job; the alteration of the interior of 
the old college building by cutting away a part of the third story 
floor, putting prayer hall on the second floor, and making new 
recitation rooms ; the visits of John G. Saxe, and Park Benjamin; 
and the adoption of a class uniform, green flannel sacks being 
worn by the Freshmen, blue by the Sophomores, and red by the 
Juniors,—the dignified Seniors donning “ stove-pipe ” hats. 

Looking back, we must not lose sight of Tom Sluby, the pon¬ 
derous, and Aaron Henderson, the philosophic barber; old Dun- 
gey, the African centenarian, who carried apples, cakes, and taffy 
from room to room, and never forgot to say, as he entered with a 
low bow, “ Taste and try, and if you don’t like, don’t buy;” John 
Lamb, of Fort Soup, the champion ringer of the triangle; and 
Benny Arnold who supplied the boys with the Police G-azette , 
Grape Shot , Guillotine , Parting Salute , Sharp Stick , and other 
religious papers. 

At the time of our graduation, the sermon before the religious 
societies was preached by Rev. Geo. W. Thompson, of Academia, 
Pa., and the baccalaureate sermon by the President, Rev. Joseph 
Alden, D. D.; the address before the Alumni Association was deliv¬ 
ered by Rev. Alfred Nevin, D. D., of Philadelphia; and the 
address before the literary societies by Rev. Moses D. Hodge, 
D. D., of Richmond, Ya. The commencement exercises took 
place in Providence Hall, Canonsburg, on Wednesday, August 
4th, 1858. 


t 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 19 

The programme was as follows: 

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES 

—OF- 

JEFFERSON COLLEGE, 

AUGUST 4th, 1858. 


music. PRAYER 

SALUTATORY, ENGLISH, LATIN, AND GREEK*.. 

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC OF ’49. 

SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION...... 

MUSIC. 

BEAUTY.. 

AMERICAN POLITICS. 

THE HIGHER LAW. 

MUSIC. 

PARALLAX. 

CRIME ITS OWN RETRIBUTION. 

THE THINKER’S MISSION. 

MUSIC. 

SCIENTIFIC SCEPTICISM. 

ACTION. 

RIGHT OF PROPERTY. 


MUSIC. 

THE LEGAL PROFESSION. 

RELIGION THE TRUE CONSERVATISM. 

THE FUNCTION OF ART.1. 

MUSIC. 

ART AND NATURE IN SHAKSPEARE. 

TRUE GREATNESS.?.. 

ESTHETIC CULTURE. 


MUSIC. 

MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCEf. 

OBEDIENCE, THE W~AY TO HONOR. 

ORIGINALITY. 

MUSIC. 

UNITY OF PURPOSE. 

OUR CURRENCY. T. . 

THE WAR OF THE WITS. 

MUSIC. 

CLASSICAL STUDY % . 

HEROISM. 

LIFE A DISCIPLINE. 

MUSIC. 

REVOLUTIONS. 

SUPERSTITION AND INFIDELITY f. 

DECAY OF FEELING. 

MUSIC. 

NULLIFICATION. 

RELATION OF MAN TO NATURE. 

THE TRUE HISTORY. 


VALEDICTORY* 


MUSIC. 


MUSIC. 


MUSIC. 

.R. B. Patterson, Canonsburg, Pa. 

.W. L. Alden, Canonsburg, Pa. 

.J. S. Barr, Dunningsville, Pa. 

.F. J. Collier, Philadelphia, Pa. 

.W. Dickson, Canfield, O. 

.H. H. Dobbins, Poland, 0. 

.W. B. Dunlap, Beaver, Pa. 

.H. R. Hill, East Liverpool, 0. 

.J. F. Holcomb, Canfield, 0. 

.W. A. Hooper, Springfield, 0. 

.R. T. Hunt, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

.D. J. Irwin, Rural Valley, Pa. 

.G. A. Jenks, Punxsulawney, Pa. 

.Alf. Kerr, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

.J. M’Claren, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

. J. 0. M’Koavn, Holliday’s Cove, Pa. 

.M. M’Millin, Beaver, Pa. 

.J. W. Martin, Jefferson Co., 0. 

.M. B. Massey, Masseysburg, Pa. 

.N. A. Means, Nortlifield, 0. 

.J. I. Nevin, Sewickleyville, Pa. 

.S. H. Niblock, Landisburg, Pa. 

.G. C. Orr, Kittanning, Pa. 

.G. Paull, Connellsville, Pa. 

,F. J. C. Schneider, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

.F. M. Slemons, Salisbury, Md. 

.J. N. Smith, Greensburg, Pa. 

.J. W. Sproull, Allegheny City, Pa. 

.W. A. Starrett, Fayette, Pa. 

.W. M. Taylor, Enon Valley, Pa. 

• 

....J. F. Templeton, Monticello, La. 
....11. A. Thompson, Half Moon, Pa. 
.J. S. Woodburn, Big Spring, Pa. 

.R. H. White, Cumberland, Va. 


CONFERRING OF DEGREES. 

BENEDICTION. 


* First Honor divided. 


MUSIC. 

t Second Honor divided. 


Third Honor. 





































20 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858 


On the programme was printed the roll of the 
GRADUATING CLASS: 


W. L. ALDEN, 

W. ALEXANDER, 

S. C. ALEXANDER, 

H. A. BARCLAY, 

J. S. BARR, 

F. J. COLLIER, 

J. G. CONDIT, 

W. F. COW DEN, 

S. J. CRAIGHEAD, 

D. R. CULLY, 

J. H. CUNNINGHAM, 
W. DICKSON, 

H. H. DOBBINS, 

J. H. DONALDSON, 

W. B. DUNLAP, 

J. R. EWING, 

S. FULTON, 

S. GAMBLE, 

L. Y. GRAHAM, 

A. W. H. H. HAWKINS, 
D. B. HERVEY, 

H. R. HILL, 

J. F. HOLCOMB, 

S. H. HOLLIDAY, 

W. A. HOOPER, 


S. A. HUGHES 

M. M. HULTZ, 

R. T. HUNT, 

D. J. IRWIN, 

G. A. JENKS, 

W. P. JOHNSTON, 
A. JONES, 

A. B. KELLY, 
ALF. KERR, 

N. S. LOWRIE, 

J. M’CLAREN, 

J. C. M’COMBS, 

J. H. M’CONAHY, 

S. M’CORMICK, 

C. W. M’HENRY, 

J. L. MTLVAINE, 
J. 0. M’KOWN, 

M. M’MILLIN, 

T. I. M’NITE, 

J. W. MARTIN, 

M. B. MASSEY, 

N. A. MEANS, 

J. R. MOORE, 

P. H. MOWRY, 

J. H. NESBITT, 


J. I. NEYIN, 

S. H. NIBLOCK, 

J. D. NOBLE, 

G. C. ORR, 

R. B. PATTERSON, 

G. PAULL, 

E. S. POLLOCK, 

F. J. C. SCHNEIDER, 

J. SIMPSON, 

F. M. SLEMONS, 

N. H. SMITH, 

J. N. SMITH, 

J. W. SPROULL, 

W. A. STARRETT, 

J. A. STEWART, 

R. C. STEWART, 

W. M. TAYLOR, 

'J. F. TEMPLETON, 

H. A. THOMPSON, 

E. N. TODD, 

C. DkW. TRUMBULL, 
R. H. WHITE, 

J. S. WOODBURN. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


21 


WILLIAM LIVINGSTON ALDEN, Esq. 

Wm. L. Alden, the son of Rev. Dr. Joseph and Isabella 
Livingston Alden, was born in Williamstown, Mass., in 1838. 
During the latter part of our course, his father was President of 
Jefferson College, and Professor of Intellectual and Moral Phi¬ 
losophy. At home, under his father’s instruction, William pursued 
his preparatory studies, and in 1854 entered Lafayette College 
at Easton, Pa. Two years later, he entered the Junior Class 
at Jefferson. L^pon the completion of his course in 1858, he 
went from Canonsburg to New York City, and there spent two 
years in the office of Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, engaged in the study 
of law. From New York he went to Europe. On his return to 
this country, after a year’s absence, he practiced law in New York 
until 1865, when he turned his attention to journalism, which 
he continues to pursue with ability and success. He has been 
employed as an editorial writer on the World, the Graphic, and 
other papers; and for about seven years, has been one of the edi¬ 
tors of the N. Y. Times. In politics he is a free-trader, and in 
religion a Ritualist. In doctrinal belief, he appears to have 
departed from the faith of his venerable father, who is a Pres¬ 
byterian. 

Mr. Alden is the author of several books: Domestic Explosives, 
a volume containing Times editorials; Shooting Stars, another 
of the same kind; The Canoe and the Flying Pron; Life of 
Christopher Columbus; and three books for juveniles, entitled, 
The Moral Pirates; The Cruise of the Ghost; and The Cruise 
of the Canoe Club. He is now writing a Roman history for 
schools. 

To Mr. Alden belongs the honor of having introduced among 
his countrymen the new, healthful, and pleasant exercise of 
canoeing. It is the adoption by pale-faced natives of a mode of 
navigation that has been practiced for many generations by the 
North American Indians. Our gifted classmate knows how to 
paddle his own canoe. Prosperity will surely attend him on the 
voyage of life, and we hope it may, since the Red Men have 
taught him how to paddle, and the Ritualists how to pray. 


22 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858. 


Mr. Alden was married to Miss Agnes M. McClure, daughter 
of Rev. Dr. McClure, of Canonsburg, Pa. They have two chil¬ 
dren, a son and a daughter. The son is now attending the U. S. 
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. In 1879 Mr. Alden and his 
family visited Europe. His family residence is at Garden City, 
Long Island. 

The Editor cannot attend our class re-union, because he never 
gets a holiday, except a few days for canoeing in the Summer. 
He sends his love to “the boys,” and wishes that he was young 
again, and an undergraduate. 


REV. WILLIAM ALEXANDER, D. D. 

On a farm, near Shirleysburg, in Huntingdon County, Penn¬ 
sylvania, William, the eldest son of Randall and Sarah Carothers 
Alexander, was born December 18th, 1831. After receiving 
instruction at public and private schools, and at Tuscarora and 
Juniata Academies, he spent three years at Lafayette College at 
Easton, Pa., before entering the Senior Class at Jefferson. He 
studied theology at Princeton, New Jersey, where he graduated 
in April, 1861. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Nor¬ 
thumberland, June 10th, 1862. Since he entered the ministry, 
he has resided in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California. For 
awhile, he preached at the Presbyterian Church of Spruce Creek, 
and afterwards became pastor of Lycoming Church, located at 
Williamsport, Pa., which he served for one year. Removing to 
Wisconsin in 1863, he became President of Carroll College, and 
preached at Holland Run, Elysburg, and Waukesha., After 
retiring from the Presidency of Carroll College, he was pastor for 
four years, from ’65 to ’69, of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Beloit, Wis. He went to California in 1870, and has ever since 
resided in that State. In California he has preached at San Jose, 
Centreville, Batavia, and other places, has served as President of 
the City College of San Francisco, and as professor in the Pres¬ 
byterian Theological Seminary of that city, and has been one of 
the editors of the Occident. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


23 


During college days at Canonsburg, there was a young lady 
within the walls of Olome Institute, in whom William felt a spe¬ 
cial interest. It was Miss Minnie P. Osborne, a teacher, to whom 
he was married on Christmas-day, 1861, at Hudson, N. Y. They 
have had six children, three of whom survive, all boys, bright 
and healthy. 

Several years ago he was honored with the degree of Doctor 
of Divinity by Wooster University. Among the productions of 
his pen, which have been published, in addition to his editorials 
in the Occident , are several sermons and addresses, and commen¬ 
taries on the International Sunday School Lessons, for three 
years. By his voice and pen, he has been instrumental in accom¬ 
plishing a great deal of good; and, on account of his ability as a 
preacher, professor, and editor, he has been held in high esteem 
in the various places where he has labored. 

The Doctor’s home is at Batavia, Cal., where he owns a hand¬ 
some residence, with 40 acres in vineyard and orchard, which 
secures him a competence. He spends half the week in San 
Francisco, lecturing in the Theological Seminary in term time, 
and the rest of his time at home, divided between his studies and 
looking after his estate. 

The Doctor is six feet in height, and weighs 209 pounds. He 
wears spectacles, but has no gray hairs, and no bald places on 
his head. 


REV. SAMUEL CAROTHERS ALEXANDER. 

Quite different from the experience of his brother William, has 
been that of Samuel C. Alexander; one turned his face west¬ 
ward, the other southward. Samuel was born near Shirleysburg, 
Huntingdon County, Pa., April Tth, 1833. His preparatory 
education was received partly at Shirleysburg, and partly in 
Kentucky, at the academy at Mt. Washington, Bullitt County, 
and at the one at Bardstown, Nelson County. He first attended 
Centre College at Danville, Ky., entering the Sophomore Class 
in 1855. Two years after, he entered the Senior Class at Jeffer¬ 
son. As soon as he graduated, he went to Columbia, South 



24 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Carolina, and was a student in the Presbyterian Theological 
Seminary in that city, until May, 1861. Being licensed by the 
Presbytery of Charleston, April 9th, 1860, he preached for a 
short time at Rev. John Douglass’ Church, on James Island, near 
that city, and served as chaplain and teacher at Barhamville 
Female College, near Columbia. Going northward a little, he 
became pastor of Steel Creek and Pleasant Hill Presbyterian 
Churches, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in the Win¬ 
ter of 1861, and served those churches for four years. The 
Steel Creek Church was large, having 400 members. His pas¬ 
torate in North Carolina continued during the Rebellion. Not 
being in sympathy with the Southern people, nor with the 
Southern Presbyterian Church, he began, in 1865, at the close of 
the war, the work of an independent evangelist among the Freed- 
men. The next year, he accepted a commission from the General 
Assembly’s Committee on Freedmen, having their office at Pitts¬ 
burgh, Pa. In September, 1866, he united with Rev. Messrs. 
Miller and Murkland in organizing the Presbytery of Catawba, 
in connection with the Northern Presbyterian Church, the first 
presbytery organized on Southern soil after the war. As Mr. 
Alexander had urged the importance of establishing a school for 
the purpose of training colored men to be teachers and preachers 
for their own race, he was appointed, along with Rev. W. L. 
Miller, by the Presbytery of Catawba, in the Spring of 1867, to 
found such a school at Charlotte, N. C., the funds at command 
being a donation of $1,400 by Mrs. Mary Biddle, of Philadel¬ 
phia, given on condition that it should be named “Biddle Me¬ 
morial Institute,” in honor of her husband, who had fallen in the 
service of his country, during the Rebellion. The Assembly’s 
Committee endorsed the action of the Presbytery, and the school 
was opened in April, 1867, and, Mr. Miller being absent in the 
North, it was, for a time, wholly in charge of Mr. Alexander. 
For four years, he was engaged there, teaching, preaching, and 
overseeing the erection of buildings. Coming North, in 1871, 
he was pastor, for two years, of the Presbyterian Church at Shir- 
leysburg, his native place. During the past ten years, he has 
been pastor of Upper Path Valley Church in Franklin County, 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


25 


Pa., the church to which many of his ancestors belonged. He 
has been in the ministry 22 years. He has received into the 
church over 500 persons, united 164 couples in marriage, and 
officiated at 14T funerals. He was a delegate to the General 
Assembly, from Catawba Presbytery, in 1868, and from Carlisle, 
in 1880. 

Samuel’s record is checkered, for he has divided his labors 
between the whites and blacks, but it is a good record, neverthe¬ 
less. One thing more must be mentioned to his credit. When 
he was pastor at Steel Creek Church in North Carolina, he was 
married to Miss Nannie R. Price, an elder’s daughter, March 25th, 
1862. They have been blessed with seven children, six of whom 
survive. 


HUGH ARETAS. BARCLAY. 

H. A. Barclay, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Armstrong 
Barclay, was born in Greene County, Pa., near Carmichael, 
December 28th, 1887. After he had been instructed in the district 
school, he was sent to Greene Academy. In May, 1856, in the 
last term of the Sophomore year, he entered Jefferson College. 
With the ministry in view, soon after he graduated, he w T ent to the 
Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny. In 1860 he was 
licensed to preach, and in April, 1861, he completed his theologi¬ 
cal course. 

Going westward, he settled in Iowa, and preached about two 
years at the Presbyterian Church at Blue Grass, four at Summit, 
and three at Round Prairie. In 1870 he removed from Iowa to 
Illinois, and for five years had charge of the Presbyterian Church 
at Oswego. He then returned to Iowa, residing there a few years 
without pastoral charge, and from that State removed to Nebraska, 
where he is now living at Weston, in Saunders County, and is not 
engaged in pastoral work. 

A great change took place in Mr. Barclay’s doctrinal views 
after he left Oswego, Illinois, in 1875. Thereupon he requested 
the Presbytery of Ottawa, of which he was a member, to strike off 
his name from their roll. The Presbytery acceded to his request. 
He has since dropped his ministerial title. 



26 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Mr. Barclay was married to Miss Jane Chapman, at Kossuth, 
Des Moines County, Iowa, October 29th, 1867. They have had 
two children—Henry Aretas, and James Pollock. The former is 
14 years of age ; the latter died in November, 1879, aged 8 years. 


REV. JAMES SMITH BARR, D. D. 

Our class is proud to have upon its roll the names of several 
foreign missionaries. James S. Barr was born near Dunnings- 
ville, in Washington County, Pa., on December 22d, 1882. His 
parents were John and Elizabeth Smith Barr. He was brought 
up on a farm; attended the common school near his home, and 
was prepared for college at Hoge’s Summit Academy, taught by 
John Messenger. James entered college in 1855, in the last 
session of our Freshman year. In September, 1858, he entered 
the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Allegheny, and 
was instructed by Dr. John T. Pressly and others. He studied 
medicine in Philadelphia, during the winter of 1860, at the Uni¬ 
versity of Pennsylvania. Having been appointed to the United 
Presbyterian mission work in India, he was ordained, June 25th, 
1861, by the Presbytery of Chartiers. 

Not far from the college, he found a lady who was willing to 
go with him across the seas. Two days after the hands of the 
Presbytery had been laid upon him, he joined hands with Miss 
Mary G. Black, of Canonsburg. They were married June 27th, 
1861. 

Mr. Barr and his wife sailed for India from Boston, November 
4th, 1861, and with the exception of two years spent in this country 
for the benefit of his own health, and that of his family, he has been 
constantly engaged in the mission work until March 15, 1888, 
when he left India to return again to his native land. During the 
last six years of his mission life, he had charge of the Theological 
Seminary and Boys’ Training School at Sealkote, India. Four¬ 
teen of his students are now in the ministry, and others will be 
soon. 

The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him about 
five years ago, by Westminster College. Dr. Barr has been a 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


27 


successful missionary, and is greatly beloved for his amiable char¬ 
acter. It is regretted that his eyesight is much impaired. He is 
now residing at Canonsburg, Pa. He is the father of a large 
family. Of his children, six are living and two or three are dead. 
The Doctor is 5 ft. 10 in. in height, and weighs 155 pounds. 


REV. FRANCIS J. COLLIER. 

F. J. Collier, the son of Daniel Lewis and Hetty Larimore 
Collier, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, July 21st, 1838. His 
father was a well-known and highly esteemed lawyer, who prac¬ 
ticed in Ohio for many years. In his boyhood, Francis attended 
several select schools in his native town. When about fourteen 
years of age, he was sent to Monongalia Academy at Morgantown, 
Virginia, to prepare for college, under the instruction of Rev. Jas. 
R. Moore, a Presbyterian minister. In 1854 he entered the 
Freshman class at Jefferson, and took the regular four years’ course. 
While he was at college, his parents removed from Steubenville, 
Ohio, to Philadelphia, Pa. 

After graduating, he spent a year in the Quaker City, engaged 
in teaching. Then followed three years of study at Princeton 
Theological Seminary. The Presbytery of Philadelphia licensed 
him to preach in April, 1862, the month in which he graduated 
at Princeton; and for more than a year after, he supplied the 
pulpits of various churches in that city and vicinity. At that time 
he was in a delicate state of health. In October, 1863, he accepted 
a call to Centre Church, located in Peter’s township, Washington 
County, Pa., and connected with the Presbytery of Ohio, now the 
Presbytery of Pittsburgh. Dr. A. B. Brown was pastor of that 
church after he resigned the Presidency of Jefferson College. 

Mr. Collier resided in Canonsburg, and performed his duties at 
Centre Church, five miles distant, until February, 1871, when he 
resigned and went to Europe with his former pastor, Dr. Wm. P. 
Breed, of Philadelphia. 

In giving a poetical account of their tour, Dr. Breed thus 
alluded to the subject of this sketch: 



28 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


“ They ventured forth upon the open sea, 

So blue and fresh, and ever, ever free, 

' And sweetly passed the time, and merrily. 

One filled his stomach with a generous meal, 

And then with belt and buckle strapped it “ weal; ” 

But sad the tale! the be^t was drawn full low, 

The billows came and made the dinner go! 

In Florence fair, he through a flint glass pane, 

A glimpse of sylph-like maiden form to gain; 

Across the room did wildly make a dash, 

Nor waited he to raise the window sash, 

But drove his head through with an awful smash, 

Cutting his manly brow with many a gash.”— 

and much more of the same sort. 

Dr. Breed and he, returned from Europe in the Fall of 1871. 
In September, 1872, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
atDowningtown, Chester County, Pa., where he has steadily labored 
for nearly eleven years. During his first pastorate he received 
101 persons into the church, 66 by profession; during his second, 
he has received 187, of whom 126 united by profession. 

Before he settled at Canonsburg, Dr. C. C. Beatty, of Steuben¬ 
ville, had offered $50,000 for the endowment, if a union could be 
effected between Washington and Jefferson Colleges, within a cer¬ 
tain time. The colleges were only seven miles apart, both were 
Presbyterian, and both were weakened by the war. Becoming 
interested in this matter, Mr. Collier signed a call for a meeting 
of the Alumni of the two colleges at Pittsburgh in 1864, and sub¬ 
mitted a plan suggesting a classical course at Canonsburg, and a 
scientific course and preparatory school at Washington, Pa. After 
the union was effected in 1865, by a modified plan, he served as 
Secretary of the Board of Trustees for several years. 

His literary productions which have been published, are as 
follows: Rules for Spelling , a pamphlet in 1863; Christian 
Cheerfulness , an essay for which the publishers of the New York 
Observer awarded a prize in 1865; Westward Bound, a series 
of letters in the Presbyterian Banner in 1868, giving an account 
of a trip to the end of the track of the Union Pacific Railroad; an 
argument in favor of the location of the united colleges at Canons¬ 
burg in 1869; Letters from Europe , in the Presbyterian Ban - 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


29 


ner in 18T1; Chartiers Church and its Ministers , a paper read 
at the McMillan Centennial Celebration in 1875; History of 
the Downingtown Presbyterian Church , in 1876; Life Work, 
a sermon to students, in 1881; History of Centre Presbyterian 
Church , Washington County , Pa ., in 1882 ; and Temperance 
Teachings , lately written. 

At the beginning of the war, for six months, he was a member 
of Hasting’s Keystone Battery of Philadelphia. He drilled with 
the company in Independence Square, and other places in the city, 
and camped at Chadd’s Ford, in Chester County, Pa., but was 
not with the boys during the years of their hard service in the 
army of the Potomac. After he was licensed, it was his privilege, 
at times, to preach to soldiers in camp and hospital. 

He was a member of the Presbyterian General Assembly which 
met in St. Louis in 1866, and again in 1874. For several years 
he served as President of the Temperance Union, and also of the 
Sunday School Union of Chester County, Pa. 

It happened one Summer that he met at Cape May a young 
lady from Missouri. They took moon-light walks together along 
the beach, and listened to what thn wild waves were saying. Sub¬ 
sequently, an engagement was announced. He was married to 
Miss Maria P. Aull, daughter of Robert Aull, Esq., at St. Louis, 
June 2d, 1874. Dr. Rutherford of the Southern, and Drs. Beatty 
and Breed of the Northern Church, performed the ceremony, 
which was witnessed by many of his brethren of the Presbyterian 
General Assembly, convened in St. Louis at that time. 

The Parson, who has become as gray as a badger, flatters him¬ 
self that he is still a young man, and that his hair has been frosted 
by distracting headaches, and not by the touch of Time. The 
slender collegian now weighs 170 pounds; his height is 5 ft. 7J 
inches. 


REV. JOHN GORDON CONDIT. 

Among the farmers’ sons, of whom we have a large number, 
may be counted J. G. Condit. He was born on a farm in Mercer 
County, Pa., August 10th, 1829. His parents, William and 
Margaret Condit, were both thorough Presbyterians, and his father 



80 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


was for many years an elder in the church. At the age of 21 ? 
John was converted, under the preaching of Rev. David Waggoner, 
and the same year he began to study, with a view to the ministry, 
at an academy at Poland, Ohio. He entered the preparatory de¬ 
partment at Jefferson, and went through the whole course. He 
was prepared for the ministry at the Western Theological Semi¬ 
nary, Allegheny. Being licensed by the Presbytery of Erie, he 
preached for a while in his native county, and at Mount Pleasant, 
Pa. After his ordination, in 1861, he was pastor for three years 
of the Presbyterian Church at Brownsville, Pa., and supply at 
Waterloo. He went to Iowa in September, 1864, and there spent 
nine years, during which he preached for short periods at Bethel, 
Salina, Brighton, Fairfield, Prospect, and Libertyville churches. 
From Iowa he removed to Illinois in 1873. In that State he 
labored seven years, preaching at Viola, Edwards, and Camp Creek 
churches. He returned to Iowa in 1880, and has since supplied 
the churches of Perlee, Birmingham, Salina, Summit, Lebanon, 
and Chequest. At times he has had three or four small churches 
under his care at once. He has performed a great deal of mission¬ 
ary work. After laboring in so many places, John can sympathize 
with Paul when he said : “ That which cometh upon me daily, the 
care of all the churches.” 

That he might not lose track of himself, and might have one to 
cheer him in his toils, John, more thoughtful than Paul, took 
unto himself a wife, in May, 1862,—Miss M. J. McCurdy of 
Venango County, Pa., the daughter of a Presbyterian elder. 
They have had six children: four sons (one of whom is dead) and 
two daughters. He is educating his children at Parson’s College, 
Iowa. Mr. Condit, writes as follows : “ 1 have now spent twenty- 
two years in the work of the ministry, and have never repented 
of my choice. I have never been without a charge, and hope not 
to be until I am, at least, seventy years of age. My desire and 
prayer is that my three sons may all enter the ministry. Not¬ 
withstanding its crosses and trials, it is a glorious work.” 

Mr. Condit represented the Presbytery of Iowa, in the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Detroit, in 1872. 
Recently, he has had charge of Mount Zion and Lebanon churches 
in Van Buren County, Iowa. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


81 


ELDER WILLIAM FORBES COWDEN. 

W. F. Cowden was born in Lawrence County, Pa., June 22d, 
1884. He is the son of Dr. John and Nancy Forbes Cowden. 
His father, a graduate of Jefferson College, was a physician, well- 
known, and very successful. William pursued his preparatory 
studies at an academy at Poland, Ohio; spent three years at 
Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pa.; and then, to 
gratify his father, entered the Junior Class at Jefferson, one-third 
advanced, and so he received his sheep-skin with us. Immediately 
after his graduation, he went to Kentucky and resumed the charge 
of a school which he had previously taught, and, at the same time, 
began reading law, under Judge Robertson of Lexington. At 
this period of his life, several important changes took place. First, 
he joined the noble army of benedicts, going into partnership with 
Miss Mary J. Rice of Poland, Ohio, June 29th, 1859. She was 
probably one of his flames when he was an academy boy at that 
place. The next change was in his religious sentiments. Brought 
up very strictly in the Associate Presbyterian Church, and nour¬ 
ished with the shorter catechism and Rouse’s version of the Psalms 
of David, he and his wife took to the water, went under, and came 
up in good standing among the Baptists. The other changes were 
the closing of his school, on account of the outbreak of the 
Rebellion; the abandonment of his study of law, when nearly 
ready to be admitted to the bar; and his decision to become a 
preacher of the gospel. He entered the Theological Department of 
the Baptist University at Lewisburg, Pa., in the Spring of 1862, 
and after spending two years there, graduated, and was soon or¬ 
dained and settled as pastor of the Baptist Church at Jersey Shore, 
Lycoming County, Pa. After a pastorate of three years at Jersey 
Shore, he was called to the Baptist Church at New Castle, Pa., his 
native town. In 1871, a union was effected between his congre¬ 
gation and the Christian Church of New Castle, and he was pastor 
of the united church. His ministry at New Castle, Pa., lasted 
fourteen and a half years. In May, 1881, he accepted a call to 
the Main Street Christian Church of Lexington, Ky., a congre¬ 
gation numbering over 700 members. He is still laboring there. 


32 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Lexington is the seat of “ Kentucky University and the College 
of the Bible,” one of the leading educational institutions of his 
denomination. 

The Elder’s marriage has been blessed with five children. The 
first, a boy, died in infancy. Of those who survive, two are boys 
and two are girls. His eldest daughter, Annie May, is a graduate 
of Hamilton Female College in Lexington. His other children, 
Chauncey, Minnie, and Fred, are students in the University in 
that city. All are bright and promising, and are members of the 
church. It may be said of them that they are skilled in music 
and devoted to the cause of temperance. The thin-haired Elder, 
twenty-four years married, is 5 ft. 10J inches in height, and 
weighs 176 pounds. 


PBOF. SAMUEL JUDSON CRAIGHEAD. 

On a farm, about four miles east of Canonsburg, Pa., S. J. 
Craighead, the son of George and Elizabeth Craighead, was born, 
December 5th, 1834. His father was one of the original members 
of Centre Presbyterian Church, and an elder during the pastor¬ 
ates of Rev. John II. Kennedy, and Rev. A. B. Brown. Judson 
worked on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he 
went to Elder’s Ridge Academy, and there prepared himself to 
enter the Junior Class at Canonsburg. After graduating, he was 
for two years principal of Dunlap’s Creek Academy. Not having 
good health, he gave up the idea of studying a profession. 

Mr. Craighead married the only daughter of Davis Elder, Esq., 
of Indiana County, Pa. One result of their marriage, was his 
settling in the locality where he got his wife, and becoming a 
teacher at Elder’s Ridge Academy. Another result was a family 
of seven,—four daughters and three sons, the eldest of whom is 
now a student in the Sophomore Class at Lafayette College. 

Five years ago, Mr. Craighead was elected superintendent of the 
common schools of Indiana County, Pa.; and when his term 
expired, he was unanimously re-elected. This action was not a 
mere compliment, but a public testimony as to his fidelity and 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


83 


efficiency in discharging the duties of his office. Like confidence has 
been reposed in him in the Sabbath school, where he has served 
as superintendent for eleven years. 

When he goes out on horseback to visit the schools of Indiana 
County, his faithful steed groans under the weight of 240 pounds. 
By his gray hair, Mr. Craighead is recognized on his travels as an 
elder from the Ridge. 


PROF. DAVID R. CULLY. 

On our roll may be found the names of several who have dis¬ 
tinguished themselves as educators, and one of these is David R. 
Cully. He is the son of Joseph and Margaret Mondebaugh Cully, 
and was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 17th, 1836. His 
father emigrated in early times from Maryland. His grandfather, 
George Cully, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. When 
twelve years of age, David was sent from the common school to 
Vermillion Institute at Ilayesville, Ohio, presided over at that 
time by the Rev. Sanders Diefendorf, D. D. In the Fall of 1856, 
he came to Canonsburg, and united with our class when we had 
attained the dignity of Juniors, and required the Sophomores and 
Freshmen to treat us with becoming respect. After his gradua¬ 
tion, he "went westward and settled in Missouri, where he has 
resided ever since, and been engaged in teaching. For nineteen 
years he resided in Cooper County, having charge of an academy 
during all that time, except three years, from ’64 to ’67, when he 
was principal of the Missouri Female College at Boonville. From 
Cooper County he removed to Mexico, Mo., in 1877, and had 
charge of the public schools of that place for one year. Since the 
Fall of 1878, a period of five years, he has filled, with credit to 
himself and satis action to the people, the responsible office of 
superintendent of the public schools of Sedalia, Mo. 

About the time that he took charge of the Missouri Female 
College, David seemed to realize his need of a companion and help¬ 
mate. He knew more about other things than he did about house¬ 
keeping and providing for a family of girls. He consulted with 
Miss Sue Chilton, daughter of Charles Chilton, a deceased lawyer 



34 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


of Boonville, and she consented to become his wife. They were 
married in October, 1864. The Professor now has a promising 
class at home, and when he calls the roll, Mamie, Maggie, Charles, 
Walter, and Bessie, answer, “ Here.” 

Mr. Cully has been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
and a Sabbath school superintendent for a number of years. He 
is the author of a very interesting and creditable history of the 
public schools of Sedalia. He weighs 160 pounds, and is 5 ft. 10 
inches in height. 


JOSEPH HEMPHILL CUNNINGHAM, Esq. 

Jos. H. Cunningham is the son of Smith and Cynthia Cunning¬ 
ham. He was born in Beaver County, Pa. His father was a 
physician. Joseph made his preparation for college at Beaver 
Academy, and entered the Junior Class at Canonsburg, in 1856. 
After completing his collegiate course, he studied law with his 
uncle, Hon. Thomas Cunningham, and was admitted to the bar of 
Beaver County, May 1st, 1861. He practiced for a while in 
Beaver, then in Butler County, and is now practicing at Bradford, 
in McKean County, Pa. Joseph is a bachelor. 


REV. WILLIAM DICKSON, D. D., 

Our class would not have been complete without a member from . 
the land of the shamrock. William Dickson, the son of James 
and Mary McElroy Dickson, was born in the township of Lei¬ 
trim, near Castlewollan, County Down, Ireland, March 24th, 
1830, and when ten years of age was brought by his parents to 
Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio. He made his preparation for 
college at an academy at Poland, Ohio. He entered the Fresh¬ 
man Class at Jefferson. After graduating, he studied for the 
ministry at the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny. 

His first settlement as pastor was at the Presbyterian Church 
at Long’s Run, in the Presbytery of New Lisbon, part of his time 
being given to the church at East Liverpool, Ohio. His second 
charge was the Presbyterian Church at Deerfield, Ohio, in the 




JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


35 


same Presbytery, where he spent nearly ten years. In 1876, he 
became Principal of the Union Seminary at Poland, Ohio, and 
labored in that institution for five years. Since that time he has 
been preaching at Canfield, Ohio. 

During the war, he prepared a book for the press from materials 
furnished by a Northern man who was forcibly drafted into the 
Southern army. In 1875 he was honored with the title of Doc¬ 
tor of Divinity, by Mount Union College. 

He was married to Miss Hetty Niswonger, at Franklin, Col¬ 
umbiana County, Ohio, April 27th, 1857, more than a year before 
he had finished his college course. They have two children 
living, a son and a daughter. The son lately graduated in the 
Medical Department of the University at Ann Arbor, Michigan. 
The daughter graduated three years ago at Poland Union Semi¬ 
nary. He w T as the first member of the class to enter the bonds 
of matrimony. 

The Doctor weighs 170 pounds, and is 5 ft. 11 in., in height. 

Ireland lost and America gained when William Dickson crossed 
the sea. 


REV. HUGH HILLES DOBBINS. 

Another of our classmates whose principal field of labor has 
been on the Pacific coast, in the Golden State, is H. H. Dobbins. 
He is of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was born April 13th, 1833, 
at Poland, Ohio; and, at an academy in that place, was prepared 
to enter the Sophomore Class at Jefferson. Going from college 
to the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, he there gradu¬ 
ated in 1861, and the same year was ordained. In Nebraska and 
Kansas, he preached until 1864, when, in company with seventy- 
five others, one of whom was the Rev. J. G. Fackler of St. 
Joseph, Mo., he crossed the plains to California. They made the 
journey safely and pleasantly, without the loss of a person or an 
animal; and on the way, the whole company rested on the Sab¬ 
baths, and attended upon religious services. Mr. Dobbins began 
to preach in California, in October, 1864, and he has labored 
there steadily ever since, a period of nineteen years. He has 



36 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


preached at lone City, Jackson, Sutter Creek, Santa Barbara, 
S. Buenaventura, Watsonville, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo, 
in Presbyterian churches. He has organized six churches in 
California, and raised for the payment of church debts and the 
building of houses of worship and parsonages, an average of 
$1,000 a year. 

While the miners were searching for gold, he found something 
better, at Jackson, Cal., in the person of Miss Mary Eloise Trow¬ 
bridge, a graduate of a seminary in San Francisco, who became 
his wife. They were married on the-12th of July, 1865. She 
has helped him greatly in his work. Their table has been en¬ 
larged, and now they set five extra plates, one for the son and 
four for the daughters, all healthy and bright. 

By his ability as a public speaker, Mr. Dobbins has distin¬ 
guished himself in California. He was chosen by his fellow- 
citizens to deliver orations upon the martyred Presidents, Abraham 
Lincoln and James A. Garfield, and to speak at a Fourth of July 
celebration, a year ago, at Calistoga. His published addresses 
are very meritorious. 

His home is at Calistoga, in Napa Valley, Cal. The Valley is 
celebrated for its hot mineral springs, its healthfulness, and its 
beauty. It is the resort of many visitors, being connected by 
railroad with San Francisco, and distant only 75 miles from 
that city. 

Two Summers ago, Mr. Dobbins took a trip in his own con¬ 
veyance, with some members of his family, to Yosemite, the Big 
Trees, and other places of interest, traveling in all 670 miles, 
and camping by the way. Of himself, he says: u My eye is not 
dim, and my vigor in not abated, as some of my ministerial 
brethren from the city can attest, when they occasionally accom¬ 
pany me in a hunt over the mountains after deer and other game, 
a goodly number of which I have brought in as supplies for our 
table. How many of our classmates can say with me that thus 
far they have had no occasion to use glasses? ” 

He feels a lively interest in our re-union, and regrets that, on 
account of the distance, he cannot be present in person as in 
spirit. Like others who are not with us, he awaits anxiously a 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


37 


full report of our proceedings. This message he sends: “Give 
my best wishes to all of our classmates, and wish them godspeed 
in every noble undertaking, looking for happy re-unions in that 
better world where each worker shall receive a full recompense of 
reward.” And then he adds: “Come out and be invigorated 
with our pure mountain air, enjoy our delicious fruits, catch 
inspiration from our grand scenery, and rejuvenate in our healing 
fountains and mineral springs.” 


REV. JAMES HENRY DONALDSON. 

Now we come to the name of one loved and lamented. J. H. 
Donaldson, the eldest child of Rev. Alexander and Mary Bracken 
Donaldson, was born May 18th, 1840, at Elder’s Ridge, Indiana 
County, Pa. In infancy and childhood, three or four times, his 
life was in peril by disease, and as often his pious parents reconse¬ 
crated him to the service of God, in case he should recover and 
the Lord should prepare him for His work He was well 
instructed at his father’s academy, at Elder’s Ridge, and, when 
about sixteen years of age, entered the Junior Class at Jefferson 
College. After graduating in 1858, he returned home, and for 
two years and the three succeeding Summers, he taught with much 
acceptance and success in the academy where he had been a stu¬ 
dent. Being called to the ministry, he pursued his studies at the 
Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, in the months when 
he was not engaged in teaching. By the Presbytery of Saltsburg, 
at Currie’s Run Church, he was licensed, April 16th, 1862. •The 
year following, he preached at various places, but chiefly at 
Clarksburg, Pa. 

Feeling deeply interested in the result of the war, he, in com¬ 
pany with Rev. Samuel Anderson, enlisted in the State militia, 
in the Summer of 1863, for three months’ service. Their time 
was mostly spent at Camp Brooks, near Wilkinsburg, Pa. Al¬ 
though not bound to do so, by the terms of enlistment, their 
company obeyed orders to go outside the boundary of the State, 
and they aided in the capture of the famous raider, John Morgan, 
near New Lisbon, Ohio. Not long after his return, Mr. Donald- 



38 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


son was drafted into the Union army, and was approved by the 
examining surgeon; but his father not wishing him to go, paid 
the Government $300, and thus secured his release from service. 

In the Fall of 1864, Mr. Donaldson accepted a call to the 
Presbyterian Church of Schellsburg, in Bedford County, Pa. 
The Presbytery of Carlisle, convened at Shippensburg, received 
him on the 4th of October, and ordained him the next day, and 
appointed a committee to install him as pastor, but owing probably 
to the disturbed condition of the country, the committee did not 
appear on the first Tuesday of December, the time set, and the 
installation did not take place; but the people regarded him as 
their pastor. For three years he labored faithfully at Schells¬ 
burg. During that time, he started a church in St. Clairsville, in 
which he was much interested. In order to raise funds to erect a 
house of worship at St. Clairsville, Mr. Donaldson visited his 
father’s congregation at Elder’s Ridge. While going about, on a 
warm day in August, soliciting aid, he became overheated, and, 
in that condition, sat down by a spring in a cool, shady spot, and 
there he contracted a cold from which he never recovered. From 
the effects of the cold, he became a victim of consumption. It 
was necessary for him to close his labors at Schellsburg, December 
5th, 186T. Not being married, he returned to his father’s house 
at Elder’s Ridge, and there enjoying rest and comfort, and the 
society of those nearest and dearest to him, he calmly awaited the 
approach of death. The Winter passed, the Summer came, 
and then, although very feeble, accompanied by his mother, he 
visited th3 congregation at Schellsburg, whom he loved and who 
loved him, and there he performed his last pastoral act, the 
administration of baptism to some children, dedicated to the Lord. 
At the season when the leaves change, and fade and fall, he 
passed away. His life on earth ended October 1st, 1868, at 
Elder’s Ridge, ten years after he had finished his course at 
college. The venerated father yet survives and mourns the death 
of his beloved son. 

HON. WILLIAM BOYD DUNLAP. 

Wm. B. Dunlap, the son of Samuel R. and Nancy H. Dunlap, 
was born at Darlington in Beaver County, Pa., in July, 1836. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


39 


He pursued his academical course at Beaver; and in 1856 was 
able to enter the Junior Class at Jefferson. After his graduation, 
he read law with Hon. Thos. Cunningham of Beaver. On account 
of ill health, Mr. Dunlap was compelled to abandon his chosen 
profession before he was admitted to the bar. From Beaver he 
went to Covington, Kentucky, and taught school for a while; hut 
this occupation did not.suit him, and he gave it up. For several 
years he has held the responsible position of assistant superin¬ 
tendent of Gray’s Iron Line, a river transportation company of 
Pittsburgh, owning the steamers Iron Duke, Iron Age, Ironsides, 
Fearless, Kesolute, and Clinton, with sixty barges for the carry¬ 
ing of heavy merchandise to the South and West. Mr. Dunlap 
has no barges in tow himself; he is still a bachelor. 

Of late years, he has taken an active interest in political affairs, 
and is one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Beaver County. 
He has served as Chairman of the County Committee. He was’ 
chosen to represent the 24th Congressional District of Pennsylva¬ 
nia, in the National Democratic Convention which met in St. Louis 
in 1876. Several times he has been nominated for important 
offices by his party. In 1871'he was one of the Democratic can¬ 
didates for the Assembly, and led his three associates on the ticket 
by 300 votes, and carried Beaver County by 149 votes, although 
it is strongly Republican. In 1872 he was the Democratic can¬ 
didate for Senator in the 46th Senatorial district of Pennsylvania, 
and received 11,413 votes. In 1878 he was the Democratic can¬ 
didate for the Senate, and carried Beaver County by 200 votes, 
but was defeated in the district. 

Agreeable in his manners, generous in his disposition, and 
possessed of fine intellectual abilities and good moral traits, Mr. 
Dunlap commands the respect and wins the favor of the people. 
We may yet see him occupying some position of prominence and 
influence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 


REY. JOHN EWING, D. D. 

Like Jacob and Esau, like Romulus and Remus, the twin 
brothers, John and Joseph Ewing stepped into the world together. 
John was not single when he came, but strange to say, he has 



40 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


been single ever since. His ancestors were among the earliest 
settlers of Allegheny County, Pa. There he was born, October 
8th, 1884, on a farm near Walker’s Mills and Fort Pitt Station. 
He is the son of James and Rebecca Robb Ewing. For a while, 
he was a student at Dunlap’s Creek Academy, Merrittstown, Pa.; 
a senior “Prep.” at Canonsburg, a teacher at Moorland, Ohio, 
and then he took the regular four years’ course at Jefferson. In 
1857 he was chosen by the Franklin Literary Society to respond 
to the valedictory of the members of the graduating class belong¬ 
ing to that society. After completing the eourse at the Western 
Theological Seminary, Allegheny, he was licensed and ordained 
by the Presbytery of Ohio, now called the Presbytery of Pittsburgh. 
From August, ’61 to April, ’63, he preached at Fairview Presby¬ 
terian Church, located at Munntown, Washington County, Pa. 
The month following his departure from Fairview, he was installed 
as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, and thelre 
he served six years, accomplishing much good. Since September, 
1869, he has been pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of 
Clinton, New Jersey. While many of his brethren in the ministry 
have been moving from place to place, he has been laboring faith¬ 
fully and successfully in his present field for nearly fourteen years. 
By request of his congregation, a number of his sermons have 
been published. 

Being a delegate from the General Assembly of his own Church, 
he had the honor of addressing the General Assembly of the 
Church of Scotland, convened in Edinburgh, in May, 1874. At 
that time he made a tour through Europe. A year ago, the de¬ 
gree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by New Windsor 
College, Maryland. 

During the war, he spent some weeks in the service of the" 
Christian Commission in the hospitals at Washington, D. C. He 
is now a member of the Historical Society of New Jersey. Owing 
to the good care taken of him by his sister, his shadow does not 
grow less. He weighs 179 pounds, and is 5 ft. in height. He 
needs to be reminded of the apostolic injunction—“A bishop must 
be the husband of one wife.” Since our re-union, Dr. Ewing has 
become pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Plymouth, Pa. He 
was installed November 7th, 1888. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


41 


SAMUEL FULTON, D. D. S. 

Samuel Fulton is of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was born 
October 22d, 1832, on a farm originally belonging to the estate of 
Dr. John McMillan, located in North Strabane Township, in 
Washington County, Pa., about half a mile from the famous Log 
Cabin College. His mother was a grand-daughter of Dr. McMil¬ 
lan’s. In his boyhood, Samuel lived on the farm and attended 
a district school. When about 21 years of age, he entered the 
preparatory department of Jefferson, and went regularly through 
college. After completing his course, he had charge of an academy 
at Buffalo Village, in Washington County, for about two years. 
In the Spring of 1863, he began the study and practice of den¬ 
tistry, in Washington, Pa., and has continued there, engaged in 
the same business, ever since. 

In April, 1858, he was married at Washington, Pa., to Miss 
Margaret J. Rankin. They have had six children, one son and 
five daughters, one of whom died in infancy. One daughter is a 
graduate of Washington Female Seminary. The son is a graduate 
of the Pennsylvania Dental College, and is now associated in 
business with his father. 

The Doctor is 5 ft. 9 in. in height, and weighs 155 pounds. 
He has done a good work for his fellow-creatures. By his hand¬ 
some artificials, many toothless persons have been enabled to make 
“a fair show in the flesh.” By putting an end to the jumping 
tooth-ache, he has checked profanity in many instances. The 
Doctor has wrestled successfully with stubborn and tangled roots. 
By the administration of nitrous oxide, or “ laughing-gas ” as it 
is sometimes called, he makes pulling pleasurable, extraction 
ecstatic, so that delighted and deluded persons wish that they had 
more molars to be drawn. His art is beneficent and progressive. 
As he alleviates human misery, and promotes the health and com¬ 
fort of his patients, we class our dentist among the benefactors of 
our race. _ 


REV. SAMUEL L. GAMBLE. 

S. L. Gamble, the son of Morrow R. and Hannah Filson 
Gamble, was born in Franklin County, Pa., August 10th, 1832. 
Before entering college, he was a student at Academia, in Juniata 



42 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858. 


County. He joined us in our Senior year. Princeton, N. J., 
was the place where he received his theological education. There 
he graduated in April, 1861. Upon leaving the Seminary, he 
turned his /ace northward, and passed up the Hudson, into the 
neighborhood of the capitol of the State of New York, where he 
has preached the gospel, with much success, from that day to this. 
His first charge was the Presbyterian Church of New Scotland, in 
Albany County, N. Y ., where he was ordained by the Presbytery 
of Albany, and installed as pastor, August 29th, 1861, and where 
he labored for six years. His second charge was the Presbyterian 
Church of Stillwater, in Saratoga County, N. Y. He was pastor 
of that congregation from 1867 to ’70,—three years. Soon after 
he went there, a revival took place, which resulted in the conver¬ 
sion of 33 souls, and the addition of that number to the church. 
In 1870 he joined the Reformed Church in America, commonly 
known as the Dutch Church; a denomination very similar to the 
Presbyterian Church, both in doctrine and government, and with 
which the Presbyterian Church is in sympathy and holds corres¬ 
pondence. In that year, Mr. Gamble became pastor of the 
Reformed Church of Guilderland Centre, in Albany County, 
N. Y., and he has continued until the present time to serve that 
congregation,—a period of thirteen years. The astonishing addi¬ 
tion of 500 persons to the membership of the church at Guilder- 
land Centre, has taken place during his pastorate. 

In the Fall of the year in which he left Princeton, he took unto 
himself his “better half.” He found her down in the Cumberland 
Valley, in which he was reared. In order to prevent any Southern 
invader from capturing her, he took her away soon after the war 
began. He was married to Miss M. Josephine Leggett, at Carlisle, 
Pa., September 18th, 1861. They have one daughter who is now 
attending Wellesley College, Mass. That he is a good natural 
protector may be inferred from the fact that he is 6 ft. in height, 
and weighs 195 pounds. 

Mr. Gamble writes to his classmates : “I have realized in my 
experience, that it is blessed to serve the Lord, and that his re¬ 
ward is rich.” And he adds, “Twenty-five years have passed 
since we left college! Another twenty-five will sadly thin our 
ranks. Let us live for God and glory.” 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


48 


REV. LOYAL YOUNG GRAHAM. 

L. Y. Graham is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, a descendant of 
“ Blue Stocking” Presbyterians. He was born at Butler, Pa., 
October 22d, 1837. In his early days, be was a student at 
Witherspoon Institute, in his native town. In 1855 he entered 
the Sophomore Class at Jefferson College. After passing regu¬ 
larly through college, he spent three years at the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary at Allegheny. Being licensed in April, 1860, 
he preached, during the Summer of that year, at the Presbyterian 
Church of Somerset, Pa. The next year, having completed his 
course at the Seminary, he was ordained and installed as the pastor 
of that congregation. At the expiration of four and one-half years’ 
service at Somerset, he accepted a call to Rehoboth, in the Pres¬ 
bytery of Redstone, one of the oldest churches west of the Alle¬ 
gheny mountains; organized more than a hundred years ago. He 
labored there for six years, during which time 239 persons were 
added to the church: 184 by profession, and 55 by certificate, 
and the contributions for benevolent and other purposes largely 
increased. In October, 1871,'he was installed as pastor of his 
present charge, — Olivet Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. 
During his ministry, the membership of Olivet Church has 
increased from 130 to more than 700. The last annual report 
published, shows that the contributions of Olivet Church for benevo¬ 
lent and congregational purposes, amounted to nearly $15,000. 
Mr. Graham is the happy recipient of a salary of $4,500. In 
1878 he traveled extensively in Europe, having a vacation of four 
months. 

At Canonsburg, there was a young lady in wLom he became 
very much interested. The interest awakened at that time con¬ 
tinued after he left college, and seemed not to diminish, but rather 
increase. The theological course finished, he was married, April 
25th, 1861, to Miss Sade J. McCoy, at Canonsburg. He is the 
father of three sons, one of whom is now a student at the Univer¬ 
sity of Pennsylvania, and the others are at Rittenhouse Academy, 
Philadelphia. 

Mr. Graham weighs 175 pounds, and is 5 ft. 9 in. in height. 


44 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


A. W. H. H. HAWKINS, M. D. 

A. W. H. Harrison Hawkins was born on a farm on the north 
fork of Tenmile Creek, in Washington County, Pa., January 22d, 
1839. He was the eldest son of J. C. and Margaret Hawkins. 
After pursuing his preparatory studies at an academy at Carmi¬ 
chael, in Greene County, Pa., he entered the Junior Class at 
Jefferson in 1856. Having completed his collegiate course, he 
read medicine with Dr. Lafferty of Brownsville, Pa., and subse¬ 
quently attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, in 
Philadelphia. After his graduation at the medical school, he went 
to Europe. On his return, he received from President Lincoln, 
in 1861, a commission as an assistant-surgeon in the United States 
Navy. In the Fall of that year, he accompanied an expedition 
to Port Royal, South Carolina. The fleet consisted of eighty 
vessels. In 1866 he was commissioned as a surgeon in the Navy, 
by President Johnson. After serving as surgeon for some time, 
he resigned his commission, on account of impaired hearing, and 
on his return home, engaged in the drug business. While on a 
visit at Mansfield, Ohio, he was run over by a railroad engine and 
killed, November 10th, 1876. 

The following account of his death, copied by Prof. John 
Simpson, appeared in The Ohio Liberal , published at Mansfield, 
dated November 15th, 1876: “Dr. A. W. Hawkins of Clarks¬ 
ville, Pa., came to this city on Thursday, on a visit to friends. 
On Friday morning, about one o’clock, while walking on the track 
of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, between the Atlantic 
House and the depot, he was run over by the switch engine. He 
was taken to the Atlantic House, and Dr. Wm. Bushnell called 
immediately. The left foot and ankle, and the right leg at the 
thigh, were found to be completely severed from the body. There 
was no hemorrhage. The unfortunate man was conscious long 
enough to give an account of who lie was, where from, and other 
particulars in regard to himself. He lingered until two o’clock, 
at which time his death took place. It appears that the Doctor 
was afflicted with a slight deafness, which probably accounts 
for his not hearing the whistle of the. engine. No blame can 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


45 


apparently attach to the engineer in the affair, as all was done 
that could be to avoid the unfortunate accident. The remains of 
the deceased were taken to the residence of Mrs. James McBride, 
on Fourth Street, and from there they were escorted by the Masons 
of this city to the depot, whence they were taken to his former 
home in Clarksville. He was about 35 years of age, and was for¬ 
merly a surgeon in the U. S. Navy. Mr. Reed, of the Atlantic 
House, deserves great praise for his assiduous and kind attentions 
shown to the djdng man.” 

His remains were brought to Pennsylvania, and interred near 
the old homestead in Washington County. It was estimated that 
more than five hundred people attended his funeral. Their 
presence, and their expressions of sorrow, showed the high estima¬ 
tion in which he w r as held in the community. On account of his 
intelligence, purity of character, kindness of disposition, and 
thoughtfulness of the welfare and happiness of others, he was 
respected and beloved. Dr. Hawkins died in the Christian faith, 
a consistent member of the Baptist Church. 


REV. DWIGHT B. HERVEY. 

The common opinion that ministers’ sons are hopeless cases, is 
contradicted by the history of D. B. Hervey. His father was the 
Rev. Henry Hervey, D. D., a graduate of Jefferson College in 
1825 ; the pastor for more than 38 years of the Presbyterian 
Church at Martinsburg, Ohio, and the founder of an Academy at 
that place, and the Principal of it during the whole of its useful 
career. His father, descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, was a 
native of Brooke County, W.Va., and his mother of New Jersey. 
Dwight was born at Martinsburg, Ohio, June 4th, 1834. At his 
father’s academy, he was prepared to enter the Junior Class at 
college. After studying a year at Princeton Seminary, he attended 
the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny. In January, 
1862, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Richland, and in¬ 
stalled as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Mount Vernon, 
Ohio, and there he labored with encouraging results for twelve 
years; receiving into the church, during that period, about 100 



46 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


persons by profession, and TO by certificate. For a year he was 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Jersey, Licking County, 
Ohio ; and while there, 60 persons united with his church by pro¬ 
fession. In October, 1875, he became pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church at Granville, Ohio, a town located in Licking County. His 
pastorate at Granville lasted six years, during which 108 persons 
were added to the church,—75 by profession, and 83 by certificate. 
These figures we find in the minutes of the General Assembly. 

For a number of years, Mr. Hervey’s health has been impaired. 
The Winters of ’81 and ’82 he spent in Southern Alabama. The 
genial climate of that region, &nd an out-door life in a pine forest 
had a very beneficial effect upon him. 

He was elected Moderator of the Synod of Columbus in 1879, 
and the next year, at the opening of the session, preached an able 
sermon on “The Law of Christian Giving,” which was published 
by request of the Synod. A year ago, he was called to the presi¬ 
dency of Granville Female College, an Institution which has ac¬ 
complished a great work in the interests of education and religion, 
for a period of 56 years. 

It is in accordance with the dictates of reason, that the man who 
is destined to be the Head of a Female College should serve a long 
apprenticeship in the state of matrimony ; for if he cannot manage 
one woman, what can be expected of him w T hen a hundred boister¬ 
ous girls are committed to his care! Without being able to read 
his destiny, he ventured to propose to Miss Mary E. Reeder of 
Newark, Ohio, and was lucky enough to win the prize. They 
were married September 16th, 1861. Their union has been 
blessed with five children,—four sons and one daughter. 

The Professor weighs 141 pounds, and his height is 5 ft. 10 in. 


COL. HARRINGTON ROWLAND HILL. 

Somewhat after the Indian style of designation, H. R. Hill 
was known among his classmates as the Son-of-the-man-who-made- 
the-almanacs. His father, Sanford C. Hill, who was highly gifted 
as a mathematician and well-informed in the science of astronomy, 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


47 


made calculations for many of the almanacs published in this 
country for a period of forty years. His celestial time-tables 
were found by experience to be very accurate; but as a weather 
prophet, he did not have the foreknowledge of “Old Prob,” 
based upon telegraphic communications. By spreading seasonable . 
weather through each month, his predictions were pretty sure to 
be fulfilled occasionally. 

Sanford C. Hill had four sons who graduated at Jefferson. 
Our classmate, Harrington, was born at East Liverpool, Ohio, 
November 12th, 1834. He attended Beaver and West Alexander 
Academies and Richmond College, before entering the Sophomore 
Class at Jefferson. After graduating, he studied law in the 
office of Major J. II. Wallace, at New Lisbon, Ohio, and was 
admitted to the bar in the Spring of 1860. 

When the Rebellion occurred in 1861, Mr. Hill was one of the 
boys who donned the blue and went out under “the stars and 
stripes.’’ Enlisting'with the troops of his native State, he entered 
the Union Army as Captain of Company A, 115th Regiment of 
Ohio Volunteers. He served k as Major and Lieutenant-Colonel 
of that regiment in the campaign of the Army of the Cumber¬ 
land, and was mustered out with his regiment at the close of the 
war. Ever since, he has been engaged in the practice of his 
profession, at East Liverpool, Ohio. 

When the war was over, Col. Hill tried his tactics in another 
way. He moved in the direction of New Lisbon, and made cau¬ 
tious advances to Miss Louisa D. Briggs, and after a short 
engagement, succeeded in capturing the prize. This campaign 
ended, July 26th, 1865, amid joyful demonstrations and the 
ringing of marriage bells. Standing in the door of his tent, the 
Colonel now smiles upon a squad of recruits—two boys and two 
girls. 

Our hero is 5 ft. 10J inches in height, and weighs 140 pounds. 


REV. JAMES FOOTE HOLCOMB. 

We have had two missionaries in India, Mr. Barr and Mr. 
Holcomb, and both have done good service in the cause of Christ. 
J. F. Holcomb was born at Granby, Connecticut, January 20th, 



48 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


1887. His parents were James H. and Mary Foote Holcomb. 
They were both religious, and at their house, family worship was 
regularly maintained, and lessons in the Westminster Shorter 
Catechism were frequently learned and recited. Owing to his 
early training, our classmate, for some time after he entered 
college, kept up the practice of reciting the Catechism every 
Sabbath, and induced fellow-students to unite with him in the 
exercise, although he was not then a Christian. His father was 
brought up on a farm, but spent most of his life as a merchant in 
Ohio, and he was noted for his interest in foreign missions. 
While going to school at Canfield, Ohio, James assisted his father 
in his business. That he might be more useful, he was sent, at 
the age of 15, to the Presbyterial Academy at Poland, Ohio, to 
qualify himself for business pursuits, for which he showed a fond¬ 
ness. In the Fall of 1853, some of his companions went to 
Jefferson College, and he asked and obtained permission from his 
parents to accompany them, though he had no idea of taking a 
regular course. By the illness of his father, he was detained at 
home one year. While at college, he was converted and made a 
profession of his faith in Christ. After the completion of his 
collegiate course, he entered the Western Theological Seminary 
at Allegheny, in the Fall of 1858. He was licensed to preach 
in 1860; graduated in theology in 1861; and was ordained in 
1866. The year of his ordination witnessed his marriage, on the 
28th of June, to Miss Helen Harriet Howe, at Vinton, Iowa. 

In 1866, Mr. Holcomb took charge of the churches of East 
Hopewell and Nashville, in the Presbytery of Wooster, Synod of 
Ohio. Two years after, he accepted a call to the Presbyterian 
Church at Athens, Ohio. In August, 1870, he resigned his 
pastoral office, in order that he might go out as a foreign mis¬ 
sionary, a work to which he had consecrated himself while in the 
seminary. 

Accompanied by his wife, he sailed from New York en route 
to India, in October, 1870. They reached their destination in 
December. Mr. Holcomb spent several mofiths at Etawa, studying 
the language with Rev. J. F. Ullman, a veteran missionary. He 
was stationed at Lodiana in 1871, at Furrukhabad in ’72, and has 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


49 


been at Allahabad since March, ’73, with the exception of the 
time spent in making a visit to his native land in 1880-81. Alla¬ 
habad, where he now resides, is at the junction of the rivers 
Jumna and Ganges, 500 miles north-west of Calcutta. He has 
acquired a knowledge of the Urdu and Hindi languages. His 
work now is superintending a school for boys, preaching to the 
heathen, and revising the Hindi New Testament. The revision 
committee, of which he is one, was appointed by the different 
missions, and works under the auspices of the North India Bible 
Society, which is auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible So¬ 
ciety. To have a share in translating the word of God for the 
people of India, he regards as the greatest honor and privilege 
of his life. 

He has served as the agent of the Christian Vernacular Society 
of Madras, which has a branch office at Allahabad. This Society 
provides school books for Indian youth, and publishes tracts and 
leaflets in the native languages. Some years ago, he prepared 
two tracts, one in Urdu and one in Hindi, more than 30,000 of 
which have been printed. He has published a few sermons and 
magazine articles in Urdu. * 

In 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb undertook a journey to Cash- 
mere, and in 1879 visited the flourishing missions of South India, 
accounts of which were sent by them to the home papers. They 
have traveled extensively through Europe, and have visited 
Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Mrs. Holcomb, in addition to 
superintending Zenana work in Allahabad, has been a regular 
correspondent of the Sunday School Times, and lately of the 
Presbyterian Journal. 

Mr. Holcomb is the only surviving member of his father’s 
family. His father died just after he left the seminary. In 1876, 
one of his brothers was killed with General Custer. Last year, 
his mother, and only other brother passed away. 

Our missionary maintains his weight, 145 pounds, in a country 
where the mercury stands, on a May day, at 114° in the shade 
and 168° in the sun. He is 5 ft. 10 inches in height. 

From India he sends his congratulations and kindest regards 
to his classmates at Old Jefferson. 


50 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


REV. SAMUEL HENRY HOLLIDAY. 

S. II. Holliday was born near the Gap, in Lancaster County, 
Pa. He is the son of William and Margaret Holliday. Brought 
to Washington County when he was very young, he was reared in 
the neighborhood of Canonsburg. A year’s study at West Alex¬ 
ander Academy, prepared him to enter the Freshman Class at 
Jefferson. After the close of his first term at the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary, Allegheny, he engaged a year in teaching, and 
then returned to the Seminary and graduated in April, 1862. 
He was licensed to preach in 1861. Since entering the ministry, 
he has had three charges, all in Pennsylvania. He was first called 
to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in Brookville, in the 
Presbytery of Clarion, where he was ordained and installed, June 
16th, 1868, and labored five years. Then he accepted a call to 
the Presbyterian Church at Brady’s Bend, in the Presbytery of 
Kittanning, and served that congregation over seven years. The 
results of his labors there must have been very gratifying, for more 
than 200 persons were added to the membership of the church, of 
whom 115 united by profession of their faith. For eight years he 
has been pastor of the Church of Bellevue, in the Presbytery of 
Allegheny. 

Mr. Holliday served six weeks in the Christian Commission, at 
Alexandria, Va., during the war. He was sent as a delegate to 
the Presbyterian General Assembly, which met at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1867; and at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1880. 

During the 20 years of his ministerial life, in which he has had 
much to encourage him and give him pleasure, his health has been 
so uniformly good that he has never been prevented by sickness 
from fulfilling an appointment. 

Perhaps the principal reason why he has enjoyed such excellent 
health, is that he has had a good wife to take care of him; one 
who knows how to prepare such articles of diet as will be palatable 
and nutritious, and will not produce dyspepsia and bilious com¬ 
plaints. Samuel, when a college student, set his affections upon 
a farmer’s daughter who resided not far from his abode. The. 
maiden was in every way qualified to be a minister’s wife. It 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


51 


was Miss Sophie M. Haft, of Canonsburg, to whom he was wedded 
on the 13th of January, 1863. He thinks, as several of his 
classmates do about their own, that his wife cannot be excelled. 
And now, allow us to introduce you to Alexander, Mary, and 
Nannie, and to say that Alexander expects to devote himself to 
the study and practice of law. 

Mr. Holliday esteems it one of the greatest blessings of his life 
that he was trained under the ministry and enjoyed the friendship 
of that best of saints,—Dr. William Smith—who, as minister, pro¬ 
fessor, and friend, can never be forgotten “while life, and thought, 
and being last.” 

To Mr. Holliday is due the credit of suggesting our class re¬ 
union, and of doing much to make it successful. 


REV. WASHINGTON AUGUSTINE HOOPER. 

W. A. Hooper is a native of Ohio, and was born at Springfield, 
November 10th, 1834. His, parents were John and Jane Rice 
Hooper. Both are deceased. Before entering the Sophomore 
Class at Jefferson, in 1855, he was a student at an academy at 
Monroe, Ohio, of which Prof. Sturges was Principal. His pre¬ 
paration for the ministry was made at the Western Theological 
Seminary in Allegheny. 

Since he began to preach, Mr. Hooper has had four pastoral 
charges in the Presbyterian Church. His first charge was in the 
Presbytery of Huntingdon—the united churches of Birmingham 
and Tyrone, Pa.; his second was at Morgantown, W.Va., from 
1865 to ’68; his third was at Ellicott’s City, Maryland, from 
1868 to ’81; his fourth is at New Providence, New Jersey. The 
records show that he has labored steadily for 22 years, and, in the 
results accomplished, has had much to give him pleasure and en¬ 
couragement. During his ministry at Morgantown, he received 
45 persons into the church ; and at Ellicott’s City, 118 ; a total 
of 163. 

After his resignation of his charge at Ellicott’s City, on account 
of impaired health, he found it necessary for a while to change his 



52 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


occupation. For one year, he rendered good service as superin¬ 
tendent of the “Home for Destitute Children,”—a charitable in¬ 
stitution in Brooklyn, New York. 

He was married, August 8th, 1861, to Miss Eunice H. Critch- 
low, daughter of Rev. B. C. Critchlow, of New Brighton, Pa. 

Mr. Hooper delivered an able address to the literary societies of 
Monongalia Academy at Morgantown, W. Va., in June, 1866. 
His theme was “ The Young Men of America,—their noble 
inheritance, excellent opportunities, grave responsibilities, and 
peculiar dangers.” He warned his youthful hearers against infidel 
and licentious publications, the love of ease and pleasure, and the 
corrupting influences of party strife. 

He is 5 ft. 9 in. in height, and weighs 175 pounds. 


REV. SAMUEL ADAMS HUGHES. 

S. A. Hughes, the son of William and Nancy Sloan Hughes, 
was born at Freeport, Armstrong County, Pa., March 4th, 1885. 
In his youth he attended an academy at Freeport, of which Rev. 
Wm. Galbraish, D. D., was Principal. He entered the Sopho¬ 
more Class at Jefferson, and completed the course. Choosing the 
ministry as his profession, he went to the Western Theological 
Seminary, Allegheny; and, after graduating there in 1861, he 
took charge of a Presbyterian Church at Grove City, near Colum¬ 
bus, Ohio, where he remained a little more than a year. The war 
excitement at that time was very great in Ohio, as in other parts 
of the country. The young preacher felt intensely interested in 
the civil strife, and when the imperiled Government called for 
more troops, he decided to quit, for a time, his occupation as a 
shepherd, and become a soldier. In July, 1862, he entered the 
U. S. Army, as 1st Lieutenant of Company C, 113th Regiment 
of Ohio Volunteers, Infantry. After seven months’ service, being 
ill, he was sent home by the surgeon to die. By rest and good 
treatment, his health was much improved, but he could not enter 
the army again. Resuming his pastoral work in 1864, he labored 
for six years in Mercer County, Pa., having charge of Rich Hill 
Presbyterian Church for one year, during which 31 persons were 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


53 


added by profession ; and of Centre Church, in the Presbytery of 
Allegheny, during the remaining time of his residence in Mercer 
County. While he was pastor at Centre, the membership largely 
increased, 132 being added; 97 by profession. He preached three 
years at Lawrenceburgh, Pa., and four at Parker City, Pa., both 
churches being in the Presbytery of Kittanning. During his 
pastorate at Parker City, 248 persons united with his church ; 
165 by profession. These figures, taken from the minutes of the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, show that he has 
been greatly blessed in his labors. For the past six years, he has 
supplied the Presbyterian Churches at Brady’s Bend, Mahoning, 
Middle Creek, and other places; doing a great deal of missionary 
work. At times he still suffers from the effects of the sickness 
which he had in the army. 

When the invalid was sent home from the army, it entered into 
his mind that professional nurses were often careless and unsympa¬ 
thetic, and that, if, he did not recover, it would be unpleasant to 
die in a hospital. He preferred to end his days in a home of his 
own, and to have one to minister to him who would be gentle, 
patient, kind, and loving. Such a one he had met at Grove City, 
Ohio, where he first preached. It was Miss Seffie W. Breck. The 
chaplain was called in on the 5th of May, 1863, three months after 
the sick soldier returned; and, before the minister departed, he 
pronounced Samuel and Seffie husband and wife. Under his wife’s 
good treatment, the soldier still lives. Two daughters, Ida and 
Lizzie, have brightened their home ; but, at the age of thirteen, 
the Lord called Ida away. 

Mr. Hughes is 5 ft. 7 in. in height, and weighs 140 pounds. 


MARSHALL MATTHEWS HULTZ, M. D. 

M. M. Hultz, the son of Henry and Margaret Ilultz, was born 
on a farm in Snowden Township, Allegheny County, Pa., Decem¬ 
ber 31st, 1836. Not far from his birth-place, was Bethel Academy, 
of which Rev. George Marshall, D. D., the pastor of Bethel Pres¬ 
byterian Church, was for many years the Principal. At that 
classical school our classmate was prepared for college. When he 



54 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


had completed the course at Canonsburg, he studied medicine, and 
attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. 
In 1860, two years after he had graduated with us, he began the 
practice of medicine at Clokeyville, Washington County, Pa. In 
July, 1861, soon after the outbreak of the war, he entered the 
Union Army, and served three years as surgeon. His health 
failing, he returned home in July, 1864, and soon after died. 
The disease which terminated his life was consumption. St. Clair 
Cemetery, in Allegheny County, was the place of his burial. The 
inscription on his tombstone is as follows: “Dr. M. M. Hultz, 
recently returned from three years’ service in Co. H, 62d Reg. 
Penn’a Vol’s. Died Sept. 15th, 1864, in the 28tli year of his 
age.” Dr. Hultz w T as an amiable, unassuming, estimable man. He 
was not married. His early death cast a gloom over a large circle 
of friends who knew his worth. 


ROBERT THOMAS HUNT, Esq. 

Robert T. Hunt is the son of Dr. David and Nancy Kennedy 
Hunt. His mother was a half-sister of Rev. John H. Kennedy, 
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Jefferson 
College, from 1830 to 1840. Robert was born in Harrisburg, 
Pa., August 31st, 1835. He attended Shade Gap Academy in 
Huntingdon County, Pa.; and, subsequently, went to Wittenberg 
College, Springfield, 0., entering the Freshman Class in 1854. 
He joined us at Jefferson, in the last term of our Sophomore 
year; but, before doing so, had been some time engaged in 
teaching. After graduating, he studied law, and, in 1860, was 
admitted to the bar at Pittsburgh, where he practiced for five years. 
Going East, he went into a mercantile firm in Philadelphia, and 
after a few years, withdrew and returned to Pittsburgh, and served 
as cashier in a bank. He is now residing in the Smoky City. 

In the legal profession, our classmate would certainly have 
achieved success, for he has good talents and principles, and be¬ 
sides, a genial and generous disposition which would have made 
him popular at the bar. Perhaps he would have persevered, if it 
had not been for the discouragements arising from the war. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


55 


It is in evidence that Robert, our esteemed friend, not only 
abandoned the courts in which he was for five years engaged, but 
that, about the same time, he quit courting. Owing to the said 
neglect of the said Robert to do as aforesaid, this deponent wit¬ 
nessed that the said Robert is in statu quo ante helium. 

Mr. Hunt was not favorable to the union of Washington and 
Jefferson Colleges, and he has never become reconciled to the re¬ 
moval of Jefferson College from Canonsburg, and the desertion of 
the old buildings, around which gather so many sacred memories. 


REV. DAVID JOHNSTON IRWIN. 

It is a rare thing in these days of migration and change, to 
find a man living in the neighborhood in which he was born and 
raised, and a minister who has preached to the same congregation 
for twenty-two years, but this is true in relation to our classmate, 
D. J. Irwin. He is the son of William and Rosannah Irwin, 
and was born November 30th, 1832, at Kittanning, in Armstrong 
County, Pa. After the death of his father, which occurred when 
he was but two years of ago, he lived six years with his grand¬ 
father, David Johnston, Esq., in Kittanning, and when his mother 
married again, he lived with his step-father, George A. Barnard, 
Esq., for a time in Indiana County, and subsequently on a farm 
in Armstrong County. During his whole ministerial life he has 
resided in Indiana County. 

In his early days, he worked on a farm in the Summer, and 
attended the public school in the Winter. Before entering the 
Junior Class at Jefferson, he was a student at Glade Run and 
Elder’s Ridge Academies, and a teacher for four or five terms in 
the public schools. From college, he went to the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary at Allegheny, where he graduated, April 17th, 
1861. He was licensed a year before, by the Presbytery of Salts- 
burg, and the same month in which he graduated, he accepted a 
call to the Presbyterian Church of Ebenezer, in Indiana County, 
Pa., where he was ordained and installed by the same Presby¬ 
tery, in June, ’61, and where he has been laboring pleasantly and 
successfully ever since. During his pastorate, as the Assembly’s 



56 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


statistics show, over 200 persons have united with the church; 
150 of whom joined by profession; and the contributions for con¬ 
gregational and benevolent purposes have amounted to $33,000. 
A revival occurred in 1872, when 42 were added to the church, 
and again in 1876, when 25 were received on profession. 

In the Spring of 1870, the Presbytery released him for one- 
third of his time from Ebenezer Church, in order that he might 
take charge of the church at Clarksburg, about four miles west of 
Ebenezer. Since that time he has served both churches, generally 
preaching at Ebenezer in the morning and at Clarksburg in the 
afternoon, every Sabbath. Since he took charge of the Clarks¬ 
burg Church, 160 persons have been added, and over $7,000 
contributed. 

During his Summer vacations, when a student at the Seminary, 
Mr. Irwin was employed as Assistant Principal in Glade Run 
Academy, Armstrong County, Pa. In war-times, in the Fall of 
’63, he spent two months in the service of the Christian Commis¬ 
sion, and was with the army at Chattanooga, Tenn. “Hard 
tack” did not injure him permanently, for he now weighs 145 
pounds. He is 5 ft. 9J inches in height. 

The intense excitement which followed the fall of Fort Sumter 
and the secession of the State of Virginia from the Union, was 
not sufficient to banish thoughts of matrimony from David’s 
mind. He thought of a union that could only be dissolved by 
death or divorce. From the Seminary, on the day after he gradu¬ 
ated, the 18th of April, 1861, he hastened to Tarentum, Alle¬ 
gheny County, Pa., and there entered into matrimonial bonds 
with Miss Sarah H. Coe, daughter of Benjamin Coe, Esq. The 
new firm was known as Irwin & Coe. Six members have been 
added to the house, four sons and two daughters. One of the 
sons died in infancy. 

The degree of D. D. was conferred upon Mr. Irwin, by Lenox 
College, Iowa, in December, 1883. 


HON. GEORGE A. JENKS. 

George A. Jenks, the son of Dr. J. W. and Mary D. Jenks, 
the youngest of ten children, was born March 26th, 1836, at 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


57 


Punxsutawney, Pa. In boyhood, he worked on a farm and at¬ 
tended common schools. After his father’s death, in 1850, he 
was for a while engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store, a school¬ 
teacher in Jefferson County, a student at an Academy in Brook - 
ville, a carpenter’s apprentice for two years, a teacher in Brook- 
ville, a civil engineer and carpenter in Kansas, Nebraska, and 
Iowa. He helped to lay out Omaha in the Summer of 1855. 
In the Fall of that year, he entered Jefferson College as an 
“irregular,” and remained until the next Summer, when he 
dropped out for a year, which he spent in teaching school and 
studying law and Greek. Returning to college in 1857, he en¬ 
tered as a regular, and graduated with our class. If variety is 
the spice of life, George ought to be a very spicy fellow, and we 
know he is. Six months after he graduated, he was admitted to 
to the bar, and has been engaged ever since in the practice of 
law, at Brookville, Pa. In 1874, he was elected a member of the 
44th U. S. Congress. During his term of office, he was Chair¬ 
man of the Committee on Invalid Pensions. He was elected by 
the House, one of the managers in the Belknap impeachment 
case before the Senate, and was appointed by the managers, one 
of a committee on pleadings, one to prepare testimony and ex¬ 
amine witnesses, one to make an argument on the question of 
jurisdiction and on the facts in the case. In the session of 1876 
and ’77, he was appointed one of a committee to investigate the 
frauds in the Louisiana election case, and on his return from the 
South to Washington City, he was appointed, with others, to 
represent the Democracy of the House before the Presidential 
Electoral Commission, who were empowered to decide the con¬ 
flicting claims of Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, and Hon. 
Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, to the Presidency. Before that 
tribunal, Mr. Jenks made an able argument on the Louisiana and 
Oregon cases. During his Congressional career, he distinguished 
himself by his fidelity, energy, and tact, and the display of a high 
order of legal talent. Being so good and true, it is not surprising 
that he commanded the confidence and respect of his fellow-mem¬ 
bers in Congress, and of his fellow-citizens throughout the 
country. In the Fall of 1880, he was the nominee of the 


58 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Democratic Convention for the office of Judge of the Supreme 
Court of Pennsylvania. At that time, some of us, who *are not 
Democrats, broke over party lines and cast our ballots for Geo. A. 
Jenks. 

In January, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary A. E. Malin. 
They have had two children, a son who died at the age of 13, 
and a daughter who is now a young lady. 

Our Congressman is 5 ft. 8 inches in height, and weighs 156 
pounds. 

REV. WILLIAM POLLOCK JOHNSTON. 

One of those who joined us in the last year of our college course 
was W. P. Johnston. He is a native of Ohio, and was born, 
January 26th, 1839, in Harrison County. Before he entered at 
Jefferson, he was a student at Geneva College, Northwood, Ohio. 
After graduating at Jefferson, he prepared for the ministry at the 
Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Allegheny. 

In 1864, Mr. Johnston became pastor of the Reformed Presby¬ 
terian Church in Baltimore, Md., and, for nine years, he served 
that congregation faithfully. When he left Baltimore, in 1873, 
he took charge of a church of the same denomination at Washing¬ 
ton, in the State of Iowa, and there he labored with acceptance 
for eight years. During his ministry, he has been an able, dili¬ 
gent, and successful preacher of the gospel. 

In 1881 he accepted the professorship of Latin and English 
Literature in Geneva College, a Reformed Presbyterian Institu¬ 
tion, recently transferred from Northwood, Ohio, to Beaver Falls, 
Pennsylvania. He still holds that important position, and, in 
connection with it, performs the duties of college preacher. 

Mr. Johnston visited Europe in 1868, while he was a pastor at 
Baltimore. 

His “single blessedness” came to an end shortly after he settled 
in Iowa. Somewhere, he happened to meet Miss Clara Dawson 
Anderson, and ventured to suggest a change of name and relation. 
The suggestion was favorably received, and she became his wife. 
They were married in Chicago, June 16th, 1874. Philip Sidney 
and Bessie Dawson are with them now, both bright and promising. 

The Professor is 5 ft. 11 in. in height, and weighs 124 pounds. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


59 


ADDISON JONES. 

An original genius was Addison Jones. He was born in 1838, 
probably at Lawrenceville, Pa., where his father, Dr. Jones, was 
a well-known druggist. His mother’s maiden name was Martha 
Hawkins. Addison entered the Preparatory Department at Jef¬ 
ferson in 1853. 

He had not been long at college before he was roughly initiated, 
by some sportive students, into the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, a 
society which had no real existence. From that time to the end 
of his course, Addison was known as “Kappa Tau ” Jones. Be¬ 
coming accustomed to the name, and being good-natured, he was 
not offended when any one applied it to him. 

Addison was a witty and humorous fellow, fond of making puns, 
and he did not hesitate to pun upon his own nick-name. One 
morning he met his classmate, Noble, on the street, and Noble 
said, “How are you, Jones?” Addison replied, “I am getting 
along j Kappa-tau-ly, and I suppose that you are doing Nobly.” 
On another occasion, he said that matrimony, in many cases, was 
a matter of money. In the recitation room one day, when Prof. 
Jones was exhibiting a force-pump, and throwing a spray of water 
toward the benches, Addison, wishing to protect himself and see 
his fellows get a sprinkling, raised his umbrella at full stretch 
over his head, and then exclaimed, “ Go ahead, Professor; you 
can’t wet me.” 

After his graduation at Jefferson, he entered the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary at Allegheny. Rev. J. M. Smith, of Canonsburg, 
says : “Addison Jones was at the Seminary while I was, but only 
remained a year or part of a year. He was a good declaimer, 
speaking well a piece he had committed to memory. He was very 
sharp on a pun. I remember his keeping us in a roar of laughter, 
one Saturday morning in the Seminary Chapel, on some question 
that came up, his quick, sharp replies being one pun after another. 
On one occasion, being in a company of young people, a book was 
lying on the parlor table, having a picture of two horses’ heads on 
the back. Addison picked it up, and after scanning it a few 
moments, laid it down with the remark, “It’s no one-horse book.” 


60 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Partly on account of impaired health, he left the Seminary and 
abandoned the idea of entering the ministry. For a while, he was 
engaged in writing for some paper or magazine. But he w r as 
destined not to continue long in that or any other occupation. In 
less than six years after his graduation, death suddenly overtook 
him in the city of New York. His remains w^ere taken to his 
mother’s residence in Lawrenceville, now a part of the city of 
Pittsburgh, where his funeral services were conducted by his pastor, 
Dr. Richard Lea, assisted by Rev. John M. Smith. The inter¬ 
ment took place at Allegheny Cemetery, where a tomb-stone has 
been erected, on which is this inscription : 44 Addison Jones. Died 
in New York City, February 23rd, 1864. Aged 26 years. He 
lived and died in the love of his Saviour, relying on his blessed 
promises.” 

We are indebted to Prof. Robert Patterson for a copy of an 
obituary of Mr. Jones, signed 44 J. M. S.” which appeared in the 
Presbyterian Banner , August 10th, 1864. It is as follows: 
“The subject of this notice commenced his studies at Jefferson 
College in 1853. After finishing his collegiate course, he entered 
the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, where he would 
have prepared himself for the ministry, had not ill-health and 
other causes prevented. Mr. Jones was a young man of excellent 
moral character, of consistent Christian deportment, and of genius, 
in many respects, above an ordinary grade. He possessed origin¬ 
alities (peculiarly his own) which would often show themselves in 
sparklings of wit quite above the usual order. He was passion¬ 
ately fond of literary composition, and, while engaged in this 
pursuit, disease of the heart seized upon him and made him the 
victim of its sudden stroke. He died a Christian. 4 Blessed are 
the dead which die in the Lord.’ ”— J. M. s. 

Mr. Jones’ mother, now aged and infirm, resides at Cleveland, 
Ohio. She has in her possession quite a number of her son’s 
manuscripts. 

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 
of which Dr. Richard Lea was for many years the efficient pastor. 
Dr. Lea says of our classmate : 44 Mr. Jones was a pleasant, witty 
companion, and was fond of declaiming. Everybody liked him. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


61 


He would have graced private life. He did not shine brilliantly 
on earth, but I always think of him as a star in the Saviour’s 
crown.” 


ARCHIE RENNET KELLY. 

A. B. Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., January 10th, 1837. 
His parents were Scotch-Irish, and came from County Down, 
Ireland. In his boyhood, he attended the public schools of Pitts¬ 
burgh. His preparation for college was made at a private school, 
taught by Rev. Dr. Andrew Black. When he finished his course 
at Jefferson, he was inclined to study for the ministry, and accord¬ 
ingly he entered the United Presbyterian Seminary in Allegheny; 
but after he had studied theology one term, his health failed, and 
then he turned his attention to secular affairs, believing that an 
active, business life would be beneficial to him. Influenced by 
the great excitement of that day, he went into the oil regions of 
Pennsylvania, and experimented for oil in 1860 and ’61. Many 
men lost all they had in vain endeavors to find petroleum. 
Thousands of dollars went down into empty holes or dry wells. 
But some were lucky enough to strike oil and open gushing wells, 
and they grew suddenly rich, for money flowed freely into their 
coffers day by day. The supposition is, that our friend A. B. 
Kelly was one of the fortunate few. He is now a producer of 
oil. For ten years he has been engaged in the banking business, 
and at present belongs to the firm of May, Park & Co., Bankers, 
Tionesta, Forest County, Pa. Success has attended him, and as 
he is a worthy man, we hope he may continue to prosper. As 
flows the oil from well to tank, may money pour into his bank. 
May not the well give out, run dry; may not the bank blow up, 
sky-high. 

Twenty years ago, about the time that Archie first struck oil, 
it happened that he got struck himself. The catastrophe occurred 
not many miles from his derrick. Cupid was making a tour 
through Forest County, and seeing a young man all by himself, 
drew his bow, and aimed a dart that took effect in Archie’s 
heart. Medical aid was of no avail. It was found that he was 



62 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


comfortable and happy only in the presence of Miss Frances A. 
May. Their nuptials were celebrated in April, 1863, and the young 
man was then made happier than ever he had been in his life. 
It is somewhat difficult now for the whole family to ride out in 
the same carriage. After Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are seated, they 
have to make room for their four sons and two daughters. And 
as the father alone, who is 5 ft. 6 inches in height, weighs 150 
pounds, the load is almost too heavy for one horse. 

The roll of our class was last called in Prayer Hall by Mr. 
Kelly, and he now has the paper in his possession. 

Mr. Kelly is a highly esteemed elder of the Presbyterian 
Church of Tionesta, Pa. 


ALFRED KERR, Esq. 

Alfred Kerr was born September 6th, 1838, in Westmoreland 
County, Pennsylvania. His father, James Kerr, is a physician. 
His mother’s maiden name was Mary Carnahan. Alfred entered 
college in May, 1854, in the last session of the preparatory 
course, but he had previously attended a select school in the 
Borough of Birmingham, now a part of the City of Pittsburgh. 
After graduating, he studied law with R. B. Carnahan, Esq., and 
was admitted to the bar, at Pittsburgh, in August, 1861, and he 
has been practicing there ever since, with the exception of nearly 
three years, from August, 1862, to July, 1865, when he was in 
the Union Army, serving as First Lieutenant in Young’s Battery, 
Heavy Artillery, stationed all the time at Fort Delaware, about 
50 miles below Philadelphia, in Delaware Bay. 

By enlisting in the army, Mr. Kerr showed his bravery and 
his devotion to his country. Doubtless it would have been more 
agreeable to him to have been assigned to active duty in the field, 
where his military life would have been more exciting and eventful; 
but, it must be remembered, that Fort Delaware was one of the 
most important defences of Philadelphia, which was exposed to 
attack by the Merrimac, Alabama, and other Confederate vessels. 
Mr. Kerr was a good soldier, and as capable as any of winning 
honor and distinction upon the field of battle. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


63 


Mr. Kerr was the Essayist of the Franklin Literary Society, 
in 1858, in the contest with the Philo Literary Society. The 
honor was divided between him and his opponent. He is the 
• author of a meritorious work on finance. 

He weighs 180 pounds, and is 5 ft. 9| inches in height. He 
belongs to the division of the class that is marching through the 
world in single file. 


REV. NEWELL S. LOWRIE. 

N. S. Lowrie, the son of Samuel W. and Helen Cole Lowrie, 
was born January 27th, 1832, at Derry, Montour County, Pa. 
He received his preparatory education at McEwensville Academy, 
which was under the charge of Prof. Low Rynearson. In 1857, 
he entered the Senior Class at Jefferson. After the completion 
of his college course, he spent two years at the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary in Allegheny, and one year at Princeton Semi¬ 
nary, graduating there in 1861. During his vacation, in the 
Summer of 1860, before he went to Princeton to complete his 
theological course, he preached four months at the Presbyterian 
Church of Conneautville, in the Presbytery of Erie, and, after he 
graduated, he continued his labors there until 1868, and preached 
also at the Church of Harmonsburgh. About 100 persons were 
added to the membership of those churches while he was their 
pastor. Since 1868, a period of fifteen years, he has been pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church at Gorham, Geneva County, New 
York, and there he has received 90 persons into the church. 
Under his ministry the membership has nearly doubled. 

A few years ago, he received an injury on his head, which laid 
him aside several weeks, but with this exception, owing to his 
good health, he has been able to pursue his studies and labors 
almost without interruption since he left college. 

About four months after, he graduated at Princeton Seminary, 
Mr. Lowrie joyfully placed a wedding ring upon the finger of a 
maiden who resided in the Empire State. He was married, 
August 22d, 1861, to Miss Mary L. Page, at Geneva, New York. 
His family record now shows the names of four sons and four 



04 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


daughters. Two of his daughters have just graduated at a semi¬ 
nary at Oxford, Ohio, and his eldest son is a student at the 
Geneva High School, preparing for college. The head of the 
family looks upon the objects of his affection from an altitude of 
6 feet, and when he sits down, he requires a chair good for 
175 pounds. 


JOHN McCLAREN, Esq. 

John McClaren first saw the light in the Smoky City—Pitts¬ 
burgh. Lest any curious maiden should ascertain his age, we 
will not tell when he was born, but simply remark, that “Mac” 
is in the market, open to proposals. When he began life, he was 
known as John Fritz McClaren, and so his name appeared in the 
catalogue issued in our Sophomore year; but, in the process of 
time, the middle name “Fritz” disappeared. As he was called 
“Fritz” by his fellow-students, we must not allow that good name 
to pass into oblivion. 

Before entering the Freshman Class at Jefferson, he attended 
public and select schools, both English and German, in his native 
city. After finishing his collegiate course at Canonsburg, he 
returned to Pittsburgh, and became a student of law in the office 
of C. Shaler & Co. One of his preceptors was Hon. Edwin M. 
Stanton, afterwards Secretary of War. Mr. McClaren was ad¬ 
mitted to the bar of Allegheny County, in 1860, and has con¬ 
tinued in the legal profession and resided in Pittsburgh ever 
since. 

We hold him responsible for some of the bad marks that we 
received in our college days, and for much of the hilarity that 
prevailed in the class-rooms. He had a fashion of getting off dry 
jokes and puns, and in this way he often disturbed the equilibrium 
of the class. The patience of our beloved professors was some¬ 
times sorely tried. Even good old Dr. Wm. Smith would get 
excited and say, in a very serious and threatening manner: 
“Young men, if you do not stop your noise, somebody will get 
expelled yet.” “Fritz” was one of the disturbers of the peace, 
and it is a wonder that he was not graduated without ceremony or 
diploma in his Freshman year. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


65 


We find something of the college boy in John McClaren after 
the lapse of many years. He covers quarter of a page in writing 
“Pittsburgh, Pa.” with fancy strokes of his pen, and begins his 
letter by saying: “I am flourishing.” He writes on Saint Pat¬ 
rick’s day, when the Irishmen are parading, and suddenly his ink 
changes from black to green, which magical effect he attributes to 
the boys from the Emerald Isle, passing by in grand procession 
and casting reflections as they march. Under poetic inspiration, 
he writes a few lines about “Fort Job,” at Carfonsburg, in which 
he mentions the garden, the orchard, the windlass, the well, the 
poor leaky bucket, the nocturnal feasts, and the old Quaker gun. 
Turning from poetry to philosophy, “Fritz” has lately enlight¬ 
ened his fellow-citizens on the subject of “Evolution and Dar¬ 
winism,” through the columns of the Pittsburgh Times. In the 
same paper, he published an elaborate, but imaginary description 
of the “ Cena, or Ancient Roman Banquet, given to the Class of 
1858 of Jefferson College, at its Re-union, June 19th, 1888, at 
Canonsburg.” _ 

JOHN CALDWELL McCOMBS, Esq. 

J. C. McCombs graduated with us, but he belonged to the class 
of 185T. On account of sickness he could not attend during the 
last session of the Senior year; and, consequently, could not 
graduate with his class. He returned, the next Summer, to college, 
and was examined with us, and received his degree and diploma. 
He was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, March 9th, 1838. His 
preparatory education was received at the common schools, and at 
an academy in Wheeling. In his early days, he worked on a 
farm, and, for a while, was engaged in teaching. Setting out for 
the ministry, after he left college, he entered the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary at Allegheny, in 1859. He was licensed to 
preach in 1861, one year before he graduated. When he had 
finished his course at the seminary, he abandoned his purpose of 
becoming a clergyman. In his case, the natural order of things 
was reversed; instead of going from the law to the gospel, he went 
from the gospel to the law. He began the study of law in 1862; 
was admitted to practice at Pittsburgh in 1864; and has resided 
and continued to practice law in that city ever since. 



66 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


The young student discovered that law and love were not 
antagonistic, and that he could give attention to the two things at 
the same time. He went to court by day and by night. Although 
he had given up the ministry, he showed his kindly feeling toward 
the profession by marrying a clergyman’s daughter. He entered 
into partnership with Miss Lucy E. Swift, daughter of Rev. E. P. 
Swift, D. D., at Allegheny, June 15th, 1865. 

This disciple of Blackstone is 5 ft. 11 in. in height, and weighs 
145 pounds. Although he came in at the eleventh hour, just be¬ 
fore we finished our course at Jefferson, we are glad to have the 
name of such a worthy man as Mr. McCombs on the roll of the 
“ Class of ’58.” 


JOSEPH HENNON McCONAHY. 

Jos. H. McConahy was born on a farm in Lawrence County, 
Pa., November 16th, 1886. His father, William McConahy, was 
a native of County Antrim, Ireland. His mother, Mary Hennon, 
now in her 78th year, was born in Lancaster County, Pa. 
Joseph was a student at Poland Academy in Ohio, before enter¬ 
ing Westminster College in Pennsylvania, where he spent several 
terms. From Westminster he came to Jefferson, in 1856, and 
united with us when we were Juniors. 

After his graduation he went to Kentucky, ana taught school 
at Richmond for three years, and during that time studied law. 
Deciding not to become a lawyer, he migrated westward to seek 
his fortune. Settling in California, he engaged in silver-mining 
operations in Alpine and El Dorado Counties, and for two years 
taught school at Silver Mountain in Alpine County. Going to 
Nevada, he tried mining there for a short time in Carson Valley. 
After repeated efforts, he discovered that he could get more silver 
by teaching than by mining. In 1867 he returned to Pennsyl¬ 
vania, and has since been employed, at different periods, as a 
teacher, farmer, and merchant. For six years he taught school 
at Moravia, in his native county. Near that place, he is farming, 
and in Moravia he is interested in the mercantile business, being 
a member of the firm A. Duff & Co., dealers in dry goods, 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


67 


groceries, provisions, grain, and other articles. Although he has 
had various employments and has traveled extensively, Joseph 
congratulates himself that he has never been a book agent, uor a 
lightning-rod peddler, and that he has had no hair-breadth escapes. 

Of late years he has been pleasantly anchored. In 1872 he was 
married, at Moravia, to Miss Mary L. Phillips, in the same house 
in which he now resides. Fortune has smiled upon him at last, 
and he is in possession of more valuable treasures than he gathered 
in California and Nevada,—a family consisting of three daughters 
and one son. 

The ex-miner weighs 150 pounds, and is 5 ft. 8 in. in height. 


SILAS McCORMICK, Esq. 

Silas McCormick was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. 
He entered'the Freshman Class at Jefferson in 1854, and went 
through the regular course. He studied law under Judge Logan, 
of Greensburg, Pa., and w r as admitted to the bar of Westmoreland 
County, in May, 1868. He is now residing at Irwin, Pa., and 
practicing law at Greensburg. He never married. 


CAPT. CHARLES WALTER McHENRY. 

C. W. McHenry, the son of James and Margaret Belsley Mc¬ 
Henry, was born in the City of Pittsburgh, Pa., December 28th, 
1839. Until the death of his father, which occurred in August, 
1851, he attended one of the public schools in his native city. 
After this bereavement, he was placed under the care of Rev. Mr. 
Travelli, at Sewickley Academy. He was afterwards sent to an 
academy at Lawrenceville, New Jersey. When prepared for col¬ 
lege, he entered the Freshman Class at Jefferson, and took the 
regular four years’ course. After his graduation, he studied law 
with Hon. Thos. Williams and Hon. E. M. Stanton, and, having 
passed a very creditable examination, was admitted to the bar of 
Allegheny County. 

When the Southern States began hostilities against the National 
Government, in 1861, intense excitement prevailed in Pittsburgh, 




68 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


where Mr. McHenry resided. He was among the men who 
responded to President Lincoln’s first call for troops for three 
months’ service. Closing his law office, he enlisted with the Du- 
quesne Grays, a company connected with the regiment commanded 
by Col. Campbell. At the expiration of his term of service, he 
again enlisted and was made Captain of Co. G, 63d Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, under the command of Col. A. Hays. 
His commission was received from Gov. Curtin. The regiment 
to which he belonged was assigned to duty with the Army of the 
Potomac, under Gen’l Geo. B. McClellan. Their principal field 
of operations was the peninsula between the James and the York 
Rivers, east of Richmond, Va. 

Capt. McHenry and his fellow-soldiers experienced hard ser¬ 
vice during the Campaign of the Peninsula, being engaged in 
battle at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Malvern Hills, and a number 
of other places. At the second battle of Bull Run, in August, 
1862, Capt. McHenry was wounded in the left side by a minie 
ball, which fractured three ribs. He was taken to the hospital at 
Alexandria, Va. Unfitted for active service, he received an 
honorable discharge on account of “physical debility,” November 
13th, 1862. After his discharge, he was appointed Deputy Pro¬ 
vost Marshal of Pittsburgh, which position he filled until the 
declaration of peace, in 1865. He then resumed the legal pro¬ 
fession, being for a time associated with Col. Edward Simpson, 
but after the retirement of this gentleman, continued in business 
for himself. 

Capt. McHenry was married in Pittsburgh, February 7th, 
1867, to Miss Mary D. McFaden, daughter of the late John Mc¬ 
Faden. Her father was for many years connected with the 
“Reliance Portable Boat Line” of canal boats, having Philadel¬ 
phia and Pittsburgh as termini. 

In March, 1868, he removed to Janesville, Wisconsin, and there 
practiced law a few years, being a member of the bar of Rock 
County. It may be mentioned that he belonged to the Masonic 
fraternity. 

After a painful illness of ten weeks’ duration, Capt. McHenry 
died at Janesville, Wis., February 9th, 1874. When with Gen’l 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


69 


McClellan’s army, in the swamps of the Chickahominy, he con¬ 
tracted malaria, which affected his health until the close of his 
life. His resting-place is a beautiful knoll in the cemetery at 
Janesville. A cross of gray marble, bearing the inscription, 
“The ashes of a soldier,” marks his grave. At its base, his 
name appears. It is gratifying to know that he made a profession 
of religion, several years before he died. He connected himself 
with the Presbyterian Church of Janesville. The widow, and 
three daughters, Lorena, Lilian, and Charlesetta, compose the 
family of the deceased. He delighted in his home, in the com¬ 
panionship of his wife and children, and in extending hospitality 
to his friends. 

Our lamented classmate was a man of superior intellect, and of 
noble and generous impulses. He was courageous and patriotic, 
willing to endure hardships and to risk his life in the service of 
his country. In the social circle, he was not only jovial but 
entertaining, and while he commanded your admiration by his 
talents and wit, he easily won your friendship by the kindness of 
his nature. Knowing him well in college days, and that he pos¬ 
sessed many amiable and excellent qualities, and was capable of 
attaining honor and distinction, we can not but deplore the early 
decease of our friend and fellow-student, Chas. W. McHenry. 


JOSEPH LAWRENCE McILVAINE. 

Jos. L. Mcllvaine sprang from a prolific stock. His grand¬ 
father, who came from the North of Ireland, and settled in 
Washington County, Pa., in early times, was the father of sixteen 
children. Joseph is one of a family of twelve children. His 
father, Gawin Mcllvaine, married Miss Jane Brittain, of Eastern 
Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in Washington County, 
where Joseph was born, November 14th, 1837. In the common 
school, he received a good education, and, at the age of sixteen, 
entered the preparatory department of Jefferson College, and was 
a student for five years. While pursuing his course at college, 
he engaged at times in teaching, to obtain means of support, and 
after his graduation, he had charge of an academy at Hookstown, 



TO 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Beaver County, Pa., for a year and a half, and of another at New 
Cumberland, Ohio, for about the same period. In November, 
’61, he began the study of law, in the office of the Hon. Geo. W. 
Mcllvaine, but at this he did not continue very long. In Sep¬ 
tember of the next year, he became Superintendent of the Public 
Schools of Canal Dover, Ohio, and two years later, held the same 
office in New Philadelphia, Ohio, rendering valuable services in 
both places. 

A new departure took place in July, 1865, when he became the 
Proprietor and Editor of the Tuscarawas Advocate , published at 
New Philadelphia, Ohio, a journal devoted to the interests of the 
Republican party. For eighteen years he has edited that paper 
with.marked ability, and has kept up its circulation, notwith¬ 
standing the establishment of seven other papers in the same 
County. 

Mr. Mcllvaine has been quite prominent as a member of the 
Republican party in Ohio. During the last fifteen years, he has 
been a delegate to all the State, Congressional, and County Conven¬ 
tions of his party; for a long period, was Chairman of the Execu¬ 
tive Committee in his County; and was a delegate to the National 
Convention at Philadelphia, in 1872; and at Cincinnati, in 1876. 
He has held several important offices in the Masonic fraternity. 

But the office which has given him the greatest gratification, 
is that of Paterfamilias, to which he was promoted about fourteen 
years ago. “From the window of his sanctum,” says our re¬ 
porter, “he beheld one day a maiden passing, of good form and 
pleasing type of beauty, who imprinted her image deeply upon 
his editorial heart. At the earliest opportunity, he offered him¬ 
self as a candidate, and at length persuaded the young lady to 
choose him for her husband.” He was married, December 1st, 
1868, to Miss Anna Coventry, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, 
daughter of John Coventry, a merchant and farmer, and one of 
the old settlers of Tuscarawas County. Of their three children, 
a son and a daughter are living. 

Mr. Mcllvaine is 5 ft. 8J inches in height, and his weight is 
175 pounds, a gain of 55 pounds since he left college. We con¬ 
gratulate him on his success and usefulness. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


71 


JOHN ORR McKOWN, Esq. 

J. 0. McKown is one of our dead, who fills a soldier’s grave. 
He was the son of James and Mary Orr McKown, and was born 
at Frankfort Springs, in Beaver County, Pa., August 7th, 1834. 
His father, who was a physician, died in less than a year after 
John was born, and his mother then returned to her father’s home 
at Holliday’s Cove, W. Va., where John was raised. In boyhood, 
he attended the common school near his grandfather’s residence. 
When about seventeen years of age, he was sent to Richmond 
College, in Jefferson County, Ohio, presided over by Rev. J. R. 
W. Sloan, D. H., now pastor of a prominent Reformed Pres¬ 
byterian Church, in Allegheny. In the Fall of 1855, he entered 
the Sophomore Class at Jefferson. After graduating, he studied 
law in the office of Charles W. Russell, Esq., of Wheeling, W. Va. 
Shortly after being admitted to the bar, he went South, and for 
about a year was engaged in teaching at Huntsville, Alabama, 
where he was kindly received and much esteemed. From there 
he removed to Ponton, Williamson County, Texas, where he prac¬ 
ticed law. He was a believer in the doctrine of States’ rights, 
and was in sympathy with the people of the South in relation to 
slavery. At the outbreak of the civil war, in 1861, he enlisted 
in Capt. Morrow’s Co., of the 12th Regiment of Texas Dragoons. 
The regiment to which he belonged was assigned to duty in the 
State of Arkansas. Mr. McKown, who had never been very 
robust, was probably debilitated with consumption when he volun¬ 
teered as a soldier in the Confederate army. The fatigue of mili¬ 
tary life, he could not long endure. While his regiment was 
stationed at Brownsville, Arkansas, he was prostrated by disease, 
and sent to the hospital, where he died, October 12th, 1862. 

The following letter, written by Capt. W. G. Veal, will be read 
with much interest by his classmates and friends : 

Brownsville, Prairie Co., Ark., 
October 12th, 1862. 

Mr. S. D. Caruthers, Georgetown, Texas. 

Dear Sir:—Through the request of Mr. McKown, of Capt. Morrow’s 
Co., 12tli Texas Dragoons, I announce to you the sad intelligence of his death. 
He died at the hospital at this place, about 3 o’clock, P. M., this day. He 
has been very weakly for a long time. His lungs were very much affected; 


72 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


he also had fever. For some days, he has been conscious that he must die. 
He regretted that he had lived so cold in camp in regard to religion. I 
talked and prayed with him frequently. A few hours before his death, he 
manifested that his sins were all forgiven, and seemed to be impatient for 
the time to come for his sufferings to end. I have never seen a man meet 
death with such composure. He talked about death like a business transac¬ 
tion. He has left sufficient evidence behind, that his happy spirit is in a 
world where death never comes, and where war is unknown. He wished 
Capt. Morrow to dispose of his property, and wanted me to send his Bible to 
you, to be placed in his trunk, which I will do the first opportunity. He 
wants you to write to his uncles in Virginia. 

I have had command of the Post at this place, and also of the sick 
of our regiment for some time. I live at Veal’s Station, Parker County, Texas, 
and am a member of the Texas Corps. 

With much respect, 

Your obedient servant, 

W. G. VEAL, 

Capt. Co. F., 12th Texas Dragoons. 

Mr. McKown was buried at Brownsville, Ark., where he died. 
He was a member of the Three Springs Presbyterian Church, 
located near Holliday’s Cove, W. Ya. He was converted during 
a revival which took place while he was a student at college. He 
was not married. Mr. McKown was noted for his modesty, 
thoughtfulness, kindness, decision of character, and fondness for 
books. He was a brave fellow and had a generous heart. The 
soldier died more than twenty years ago, but he is still remembered 
and lamented by friends who loved him. His aged mother thinks 
of us as we are gathered here to-day, and weeps again over the 
untimely death of her son. 


REV. MILTON McMILLIN. 

Milton McMillin was born in Beaver County, Pa., September 
27th, 1832. Before entering the Junior Class at Jefferson College, 
he was a student at Beaver Academy. The Winter following his 
graduation, he was employed in teaching at Calcutta, Ohio. In 
the Fall of ’59, he entered the Western Theological Seminary at 
Allegheny, where he graduated in ’62. The Presbytery of Beaver 
licensed him to preach before he completed his course at the 
Seminary. For one year after leaving the Seminary he preached 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


73 


at the Plains Church, in the Presbytery of Allegheny. Early in 
’63, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Delaware, 
Ohio, and there he labored four years, during which, 65 persons 
united with the church; 39 by profession, 26 by certificate. For 
the next seven years he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at 
Mount Gilead, Ohio, and preached, a part of his time, at Card- 
ington. As the result of his labors at Mount Gilead, 92 persons 
were added to the church; 46 by profession; and at Cardington, 
33 were added; 8 by profession. On account of impaired health, 
he resigned his pastoral charge at Mount Gilead in April, ’74. 
During the two years following, he preached occasionally in dif¬ 
ferent pulpits. 

Recovering his strength somewhat, and desiring to resume the 
pastoral work, he removed to Lexington, Ohio, and took charge 
of the Presbyterian Church at that place. His labors there con¬ 
tinued but a few months. He contracted a fever with which he 
suffered for tlmee weeks, and this was followed by a severe and 
painful attack of pleurisy, which ended his life on Monday even¬ 
ing, June 19th, 1876. He was patient in suffering; resigned to 
the will of God; and his faith in the Redeemer failed not. Large 
assemblies attended his funeral services, held first in the church 
at Lexington, and afterwards at the Mount Gilead Church. 

Mr. McMillin left a family who mourned over his departure. 
In September, 1862, a few months after he left the Seminary at 
Allegheny, he was married to Mrs. Van Eman, formerly Miss 
Mercer, well-known as a teacher in Beaver and Edgeworth Semi¬ 
naries. They were blessed with five children, all sons. 

From an obituary published in the Herald and Presbyter , Cin¬ 
cinnati, July 12th, 1876, we copy the following lines: “The pul¬ 
pit ministrations of Mr. McMillin were characterized by much 
vigor of thought, clearness of arrangement, and thorough earnest¬ 
ness. He was practical and faithful in the application of divine 
truth, and singularly free from all affectation. No one could listen 
to him without being convinced that he himself felt the force of 
the message which he delivered. Many who sat under his minis¬ 
try call him blessed.” 


74 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


THOMAS IRWIN McNITE. 

Numbered among those whose departure we lament is Thos. I. 
McNite. He was born in Shirley Township, Huntingdon County, 
Pa., May 28th, 1830, and was the son of William and Elinor 
Postlethwaite McNite. Before entering the Sophomore Class at 
Jefferson, he was a student first at Tuscarora Academy, and then 
at “Milnwood,” Shade Gap, and subsequently at Juniata Acad¬ 
emy, Shirleysburg, Pa. After graduating, his time was chiefly 
occupied in teaching. He taught in the common schools at Mount 
Union and Shirleysburg, in his native county. He did not marry; 
nor connect himself with any church. He died on Sunday, April 
30th, 1865, at his father’s house in Shirleysburg. One who knew 
him well, says: “He was kind to the poor, and a favorite in the 
community where he lived.” Dr. Wm. Alexander, his friend and 
classmate, says: “ Thomas was a genial companion, and as gener¬ 
ous and kind-hearted a fellow as ever lived.” 


REV. JOHN WILLIAMSON MARTIN. 

J. W. Martin, the son of John and Mary Williamson Martin, 
was born November 10th, 1834, near Mooretown, Jefferson 
County, Ohio, on a farm entered by his parents, who emigrated 
from Washington County, Pa. When old enough to work, John 
was employed on his father’s farm. After he had attended school, 
he became a teacher for a time. His preparation for college was 
made at an academy at Wellsville, Ohio. He entered at Jeffer¬ 
son in 1856, at the beginning of the Junior year. As soon as 
he graduated, he became a student at the United Presbyterian 
Theological Seminary, in Allegheny. In April, 1861, he was 
licensed, and a year after, ordained. Having good health, a willing 
mind, and opportunities for service, he has labored steadily since 
he entered the ministry, and with much success. He has preached 
in the United Presbyterian Churches located in the following 
places, namely: at Carrollton, Ohio, from ’62 to ’65; at East 
Liverpool, Ohio, from ’65 to ’68: at Edgerton, Kansas, from 
’68 to ’73; and at North Salem, Guernsey County, Ohio, since 
’74. He was honored by being elected Moderator of the United 
Presbyterian Synod of Ohio, in 1879. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


75 


In August, 1859, just one year after he left college, and while 
he was a student of theology, he married Miss Susan E. Laughlin, 
residing near Steubenville, Ohio. She died in December, 1860, 
leaving an infant son, John Howard Martin, who is now a member 
of the Junior Class in Muskingum College. The widower was 
married in February, 1863, to Miss Nannie J. Erskine, of Am¬ 
sterdam, Ohio. Their three children—May Frances, Samuel, 
and Dora Ella, are all old enough to be in attendance at Mus¬ 
kingum College. As he has had two wives, he ought to pity the 
poor fellows who have had none, and with his studious daughters, 
increase the happiness of two of “the boys.” 

John is what we may call a very large body of divinity. He 
weighs 220 pounds, and is 5 ft. 10 inches in height. 


MORDECAI BENTON MASSEY, Esq. 

M_ B. Massey was one of the Honor Men of the Class of ’58. 
The second honor was divided between him and W. A. Starrett. 
He was the son of Robert and Martha Jackson Massey, and was 
born, October 18th, 1835, on his father’s farm in Barree Town¬ 
ship, Huntingdon County, Pa. After attending the common 
school, he was a pupil in a select school, taught by Alexander 
Fendell, and afterwards a student for two years, at Pine Grove 
Academy, in Centre County, Pa., under the care of Mr. Ward, a 
superior teacher. In ’55, he entered the Sophomore Class at 
Jefferson. After he had graduated, he became a student of law, 
at Washington, Pa., in the office of William Montgomery, Esq., 
a distinguished lawyer and a Member of Congress. After the 
outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, he seems not to have practiced 
law, nor to have been engaged in any other business for several 
years. Philadelphia was his place of residence. In ’65, he went 
to Huntingdon and practiced law successfully for about twelve 
years, associated with two other lawyers, the firm being known 
as Petriken, Massey & McNeil. 

About the time that he began to practice law in Huntingdon, 
he married Miss Maggie D. Hunter, daughter of John R. and 
Rebecca Hunter, of Petersburg, Huntingdon County. Two or 



76 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


three years after their marriage, their only child, a son, was born, 
but he lived only a few weeks. 

In the Centennial year, 1876, Mr. Massey contracted a severe 
cold, which settled on his lungs and developed into consumption, 
from which he died, March 13th, 1877. He was very fond of 
gunning and fishing, and would spend days in a cabin on the 
mountain, and it is supposed that his death was hastened by expo¬ 
sure when enjoying his favorite pastime. His brother, R. J. 
Massey, says: “He had a cough for several years, brought on, it 
was supposed, by extreme exercise in hunting deer. He would 
leave a warm office, and go to the mountain, start a deer, and 
run to the crossings, and, when he was wet with sweat, would 
stand until he would be freezing cold. Not only once, but that 
was of frequent occurrence when he was on a hunt. I have seen 
him take off his boots and stockings, and go into a trout stream, 
in the Spring of the year, and wade in it for a mile at a stretch. 
He would cabin-out when on a hunt, and remain several days. 
He exposed his health in different ways.” 

We are anxious to know something of his religious experience in 
prospect of death. A clergyman writes: “I attended Mr. Massey 
during his last illness, which was very prolonged, but never one 
word of faith escaped his lips, though I addressed him on the sub¬ 
ject of personal religion and the necessity of faith in Christ.” 

Mr. Massey was the possessor of a considerable estate, partly 
inherited, partly acquired. He willed his farm, house, lot, in 
in fact everything to his wife. Within a year after his death, she 
married Rev. Mr. Hicks, who became notorious as the spiritual 
adviser of Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield. She sold 
all the property that Mr. Massey left her, and, with the proceeds, 
went away with Mr. Hicks. 

Mr. Massey was a talented man, gifted in many respects, but 
especially as a mathematician. We wish that he had lived and 
consecrated all his powers to God. 


NATHAN AMZI MEANS. 

Nathan A. Means, the son of Captain John A. and Eliza C. 
Means, was born at Northfield, Ohio, December 26th, 1836. His 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


77 


early days were spent in farming. Having passed the Prepara¬ 
tory, Freshman, and Sophomore years at Hanover College, South 
Hanover, Indiana, he entered the Junior Class at Jefferson. After 
graduating, he spent about four years in teaching; six years in 
the office of the Clerk of Courts, in Akron, Ohio; five in farming; 
and for the last ten years, he has been in the service of Aultman, 
Miller & Co., of Akron, Ohio, manufacturers of the Buckeye 
Mower and Reaper, his duty being to provide materials for about 
eight hundred men employed by that enterprising and prosperous 
company. 

Nathan, who is a good provider, exercised his best judgment in 
the selection of a wife. He was married, February 27th, 1862, to 
Miss M. A. Ready, of Peoria, Illinois. They have four children. 
The eldest is in business, employed as a stenographer and tele¬ 
graph operator. The others are at school. 

Our enterprising Buckeye friend has our best wishes that he 
may pass through the world as pleasantly as a farmer, mounted 
upon his reaper, goes through his field on a Summer’s day, and 
that he may long enjoy the fruits of his industry. 


JAMES RAMSEY MOORE, M. D. 

Jas. R. Moore was a physician whose skill surprised his friends, 
and whose early death, while in the Southern Army, occasioned 
much sorrow. He was born, June 6th, 1885, on a farm about a 
mile north of Canonsburg, Pa., and was the eldest of a family of 
ten children, five sons and five daughters. His parents, William 
and Eleanor Hughes Moore, were of Scotch-Irish descent, and be¬ 
longed to that branch of the Presbyterian Church known as 
Seceders, who held to the principles of the Act, Declaration, and 
Testimony, as to the doctrines, worship, government, and discip¬ 
line of the Church of Scotland. They taught their children the 
catechism and enforced a strict observance of the Sabbath. James 
entered the preparatory department at Jefferson, and went regu¬ 
larly through college. After graduating, in ’58, he went to 
Keokuk, Iowa, to study medicine under the direction of his uncle, 
Dr. Jos. C. Hughes, an eminent surgeon, who, at that time, was 



78 HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 

Dean of the Iowa Medical College. In the college, as well as in 
his uncle’s private hospital, he had special advantages which he 
appreciated and improved. At Keokuk, his character rapidly 
developed, and he became studious, self-reliant, manly, and strong 
in principle and purpose. Having completed the course at Iowa 
Medical College, he located at Natchez, Miss. It is creditable to 
him that, in a community noted for its intelligence and culture, he 
soon attracted attention as a physician of unusual promise. Three 
persons afflicted with paralysis, who had been under treatment for 
several years, were restored by him, in a few months, to their for¬ 
mer active pursuits,—all of them men in middle life, one a land¬ 
scape gardener, another a stone-cutter, and the third a negro fore¬ 
man of a plantation. 

He was appointed Physician to the Mississippi State Hospital 
at Natchez. Discovering there new phases of disease peculiar to 
the South, he obtained leave of absence, and went to New Orleans, 
where he attended a course of lectures and visited hospitals. In 
the Spring of 1862, he received the degree of M. D. from the New 
Orleans School of Medicine. At this time the Crescent Regiment 
of New Orleans tendered its services to the Confederate Govern¬ 
ment, and they applied to Dr. Warren Stone, Professor of Surgery, 
to recommend a surgeon for their command. Dr. Stone recom¬ 
mended Dr. Moore; but he could not accept the position on account 
of his relation to the Mississippi State Hospital at Natchez. He 
was again solicited to enter the Confederate army as surgeon, and 
he complied. In the latter part of May, 1862, he left Natchez 
with Conner Battery, Co. H., 1st Reg. Mississippi Artillery. In 
June, when the regiment, which was twelve hundred strong, com¬ 
posed of chosen men, under Col. Withers, went into camp at 
Jackson, Miss., Dr. Moore was assigned to duty as assistant 
surgeon. For some time the command suffered from all manner 
of diseases incident to camp life, and Dr. Moore was untiring in 
his efforts to relieve suffering and to improve the sanitary condition 
of the camp, and he endeared himself to every soldier. The chief 
surgeon, Dr. Boyd, said of him: “ He is a remarkable man, both 
in professional ability and powers of endurance. If he don’t break 
down, he will have few equals in the army.” 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


79 


In July, the regiment was divided, and Dr. Moore was sent 
with the section ordered to Grand Gulf, on the Mississippi river. 
During an engagement with the Federal forces, he # rode to the 
front, with his instruments, to a place where a battery was engaged 
with a gun-boat. A shell exploded near him, and his horse threw 
him, causing a severe bruise on his back. After several days, he 
was obliged to leave camp and go to Port Gibson for medical 
treatment. The injury had assumed, by this time, the char¬ 
acter of a carbuncle. He sank, after weeks of intense suffering, 
into a typhoid condition, and one complication of disease after 
another followed until the end came. He died on the 1st of 
August, 1862, at the residence of Horatio Spencer, a man of noble 
heart, who, together with his estimable Christian family, did every¬ 
thing that intelligence and a generous disposition could suggest 
for the relief or comfort of his unfortunate guest. 

Dr. Moore was attended, after his removal from camp, by his 
eldest sister, Mrs. M. H. Roudebush, and her husband. He was 
a patient and uncomplaining sufferer, and his Christian faith 
triumphed over the fear of death. In the full possession of his 
faculties, and while supported in the arms of those who loved him, 
his spirit passed away, giving every evidence of a good hope for 
the life everlasting. 

Mr. G. J. Bahin, of Natchez, Ex-Sergeant of Conner Battery, 
says that Dr. Moore’s remains were taken to Natchez, and interred 
in the city cemetery, in the lot of N. L. Carpenter, Esq., and that 
there is nothing to mark his grave. 

Although Dr. Moore was an entire stranger to him, Mr. H. M. 
Spencer, an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Port Gibson, re¬ 
ceived the sick man into his house and cared for him six weeks 
until he died. Mr. Spencer says: “I had frequent conversations 
with him on the subject of a personal interest in the Saviour, upon 
which his mind appeared to dwell, and he seemed at all times 
ready and pleased to talk. He often expressed himself as willing 
to live or die, as God might will it. He frequently requested me 
to pray with him, and wished to be remembered in family prayer. 
I stood by his bedside the day before he died, and without my 
saying anything to him, he turned his face to me and said, i I feel 


80 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


more and more confidence in God.’ I asked him if he trusted 
alone to Christ for salvation, and he said, ‘I think I do.’” 

Dr. Moore sank into the grave just as the sun-light of prosperity 
dawned upon his path, and men had learned to love and honor him. 


REV. PHILIP HENRY MOWRY, D. D. 

P. H. Mowry, whose parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and 
whose ancestors for several generations w T ere Presbyterians, was 
born March 6th, 1887, in Allegheny City, Pa. He entered Jef¬ 
ferson College in January, 1853, and for three months was an 
irregular Freshman. After spending a year in a private school, 
and another in studying law, he came again to Jefferson and en¬ 
tered the Sophomore Class, in the Fall of 1855. When he had 
completed his collegiate course, he entered the Western Theologi¬ 
cal Seminary at Allegheny, and continued his studies until April, 
1861, when he graduated. The year before he graduated, he was 
licensed to preach the gospel. In 1861, he not only received his 
diploma at the Theological Seminary, hut was called, ordained, 
installed, and married; so that was an eventful year in his history. 
He was ordained in Philadelphia, on the 9th of October, 1861. 

Mr. Mowry has had four pastoral charges in the Presbyterian 
Church. He was pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of 
Philadelphia, from 1861 to 1863; of the Big Spring Church at 
Newville, Pa., from 1863 to 1868; and of the Second Church at 
Springfield, Ohio, from 1868 to 1873. Since 1873 he has been 
the pastor of the First Church of Chester, Pa. 

We have the minutes of the General Assembly of the Presby¬ 
terian Church for all the years of his ministry, except those in 
which he labored in Philadelphia, and the statistics show that he 
has been very successful in winning souls, and in raising funds 
for benevolent objects. At Newville he received 148 persons into 
the church ; at Springfield, 147 ; and at Chester, the number was 
261 a year ago. The additions at the three places named amount 
to 556; of whom 335 united by profession, and 221 by certificate. 

We have alluded to Mr. Mowry’s early marriage. The lady 
of his choice was Miss Kate R. Richardson, of Greensburg, 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


81 


Westmoreland County, Pa., to whom he was married, October 
23d, 1861, by the Rev. Dr. M. W. Jacobus, a distinguished Pro¬ 
fessor in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny. Mrs. 
Mowry, who was an intelligent, refined, and devout lady, died in 
January, 1881. They were favored with nine children, four 
daughters and five sons, of whom all survive but the youngest, 
a son, who died in infancy. 

In the last year of his college course, Mr. Mowry was chosen 
by the Franklin Society to deliver an original oration at the con¬ 
test with the Philo Society. In 1878 he w^as elected Moderator 
of the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia. In 1880 he enjoyed 
a five months’ tour through Europe. Several times he has had 
the privilege of representing his Presbytery in the General 
Assembly. The Western University of Pittsburgh honored him . 
with the degree of D. D., in 1881. The Doctor weighs 150 
pounds, and is 5 ft. 9 inches in height. Of late years his forehead 
has been getting higher and higher, until now it extends to the 
top of his head. In this respect he is like Geo. A. Jenks, Alfred 
Kerr, and some others who have experienced a denudation of the 
natural covering of the scalp. 


REV. JOHN HARVEY NESBITT. 

J. H. Nesbitt was born in Indiana County, Pa., August 20th, 
1834, on a farm, now owned by his only brother, which has been 
in the possession of their family for four generations. He joined 
us in the Fall of ’56. Before that, he had been engaged in farm¬ 
ing, attending Elder’s Ridge and Saltsburg Academies, and in 
teaching. After graduating at Jefferson, in ’58, he spent a year 
at the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, and two years 
at the Seminary of the North-West in Chicago, Ill. He was 
licensed by the Presbytery of Chicago, April 11th, 1860, and the 
next year, in October, he was ordained as an Evangelist. He was 
engaged in mission work from ’61 to ’64; was pastor at Macomb, 
Ill., from ’64 to ’69; at Frankfort, Ky., from ’69 to ’76, when 
he rested in Western Pennsylvania, for two years, on account of 
impaired health; was pastor at Mingo, Washington County, Pa., 



82 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


from ’78 to ’81; and since that time has been preaching at 
Owensboro, Ky. He has been a faithful, laborious, and success¬ 
ful minister of the gospel. During his pastorate at Macomb, Ill., 
181 persons were added to the church; at Frankfort, Ky., 121; 
at Mingo, Pa., 28; at Owensboro, Ky., the first year, 12; mak¬ 
ing a total of 287; of whom 164 united by profession. Several of 
his sermons and addresses have been published. 

Although the subjects of Queen Victoria did not sympathize 
very much with the people of the North during the war, John 
found one, in those trying times, who was inclined to give him 
aid and comfort. It was Miss Agnes R. Ross who had come over 
from Canada to Rockford, Ill. After some meetings and prelimi¬ 
nary negotiations, it was agreed between the parties to enter into 
. an alliance “for better or worse.” The contract was ratified May 
25th, 1864. They have had two children. The first died in in¬ 
fancy. The other, a good and studious lad of seventeen, was, for 
a while, in attendance at Jefferson Academy at Canonsburg, and 
more recently at a school in Illinois, and is about ready to enter 
college. He may become as good but it is doubtful whether he 
will ever be as great a man as his father, who is 6 ft. in height, 
and weighs 200 pounds. 


COL. JOHN IRWIN NEVIN.* 

John I. Nevin is the son of Rev. Daniel E. and Margaret Irwin 
Nevin, and was born in Allegheny City, August 22d, 1887. He 
pursued his academical studies at Sewickley, under the direction 
of Rev. Jas. S. Travelli. At the age of twenty, he entered the 
Junior Class at Jefferson College. After receiving his diploma, 


* With profound regret, we record the death of Col. John I. Nevin, which took place at 
his home at Sewickley, Pa., on Saturday morning, January 5th, 1884. He fell a victim to 
Bright’s disease, which had been preying for some time upon his system. He died peacefully, 
trusting in Christ as his Saviour. On Sunday afternoon, January 6th, after funeral services 
conducted by Dr. Bittinger and Dr. Allison, in the Presbyterian Church, his remains were 
interred in the cemetery at Sewickley. It is seldom that a man dies whose departure is more 
generally and sincerely lamented, than that of Col. Nevin. His fine literary attainments, his 
superior ability as a fearless, truth-seeking, and independent journalist; his noble record as 
a brave, patient, and successful soldier; his pleasing accomplishments in vocal and instru¬ 
mental music; and his attractive social qualities, gained for him the admiration, esteem, and 
friendship of multitudes of people. Concerning him, his mother said: “lean say of John 




JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


83 


he was engaged for two years in teaching school. Inspired by a 
spirit of patriotism, when the Rebellion broke out in 1861, he 
drew his sword in defense of the Union, and went to war as Second 
Lieutenant of Company G, of the 28th Regiment of Pennsylvania 
Volunteers. The regiment to which he belonged, served in the 
army of the Potomac, 6th Corps. Unfortunately for John, he 
was captured by the Confederates, near Harper’s Perry, Va., and 
committed to the tender mercies of the keepers of Libby prison, 
in Richmond, Va., and afterwards of the prison of Salisbury, 
N. C., where he enjoyed, for a period of six months, such luxuries 
as were provided in those days for Northern men. Upon his re¬ 
lease, he was promoted to the rank of Major, anck subsequently, 
was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the 93d Regiment of Pennsyl¬ 
vania Volunteers. He was wounded in the battle of the Wilder¬ 
ness, May 6th, 1864. After the war, he spent three years in 
Utah and Montana. Returning to the East, he became editor of 
the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1868, and of the Pittsburgh Leader 
in 1870. He is now the editor and principal proprietor of both 
the Evening and the Sunday Leader. His papers are widely 
circulated in Western Pennsylvania, and exert a great influence 
upon the minds of thousands of readers. 

The Pittsburgh Sunday Globe , of May 13th, 1883, contained 
brief sketches of the city editors, and this is what was said of John 
I. Nevin: “He is what may be called, for want of a better term, 
a topical reader. Wide, general information, and special reading 
on topics as they come up, give a force and freshness not otherwise 
attainable. As a casuist he is clearly without a peer on the 
Pittsburgh press, and while always positive and plausible, and not 
infrequently wrong, he is never dull or uninteresting. Politically 


what I think not one mother in a thousand can say of her children, that in all his life, 
as a boy, a youth, a man, he never spoke a disrespectful word to me.” To his brothers, asso¬ 
ciated with him in editorial work, he said: “Boys, it is our duty, as well as our best policy, 
to ever seek for the truth. We should attack falsehood and deceit wherever found. Fraud, 
sham, hypocrisy, and superstition, whether in religion, science, politics, or society, should 
receive our hearty condemnation. Nothing can last except truth. Our line of policy should 
be to always stand up for what we think is right. Let us defend a man, if his cause is just, 
no matter how strong and influential his oppressor may be.” 

Guided through life by such lofty principles, we should cherish and honor the memory 
of Col. Nevin. 



84 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


and otherwise, he is the most independent of the journalistic 
Nevins, and the persistency with which he hammers away at 
the eight-hour law, and other labor foibles, in a working commu¬ 
nity, indicates the true journalistic independence which believes in 
leading, not blindly following that ‘ will o’ the wisp ’ known as 
public opinion. lie can come as near saying the right thing at 
the right time, as any one we can name on the Pittsburgh press, 
and this talent, tact, or call it what you will, is no small part of 
the journalistic success of the Colonel. His autograph on a 
check is said to be good for $140,000.” 

Peace has its triumphs no less than war. In 1873, our valiant 
editor made a good capture, in the person of Miss Eleanor H. 
Hawes, and to their home have come tw T o sons and two daughters. 


SAMUEL HOLMES NIBLOCK. 

The first member of our class removed by death, after our 
graduation, was Samuel II. Niblock. He w T as a Pennsylvanian, 
the son of Dr. William and Ann Niblock, and was born at Lan- 
disburg, in Perry County, February 23d, 1836. Before entering 
college, he was a student at Airy View Academy, in Juniata 
County, Pa. Mr. Wilson was then Principal. Mr. Niblock, 
being the son of a physician, might have been expected to devote 
himself to the study and practice of medicine. But, having been 
converted while at college, he felt it to be his duty to enter the 
ministry, and had made up his mind to prepare himself to preach 
the gospel. He had extensive correspondence with Rev. Dr. Wm. 
S. Plumer, of Allegheny, on this subject. Before entering the 
theological seminary, he decided to accept, for a while, the posi¬ 
tion of an assistant in an Academy at Washington, in Guernsey 
County, Ohio. A short time after he began his work there, his 
health failed, and he was obliged to return to his home at Landis- 
burg, Pa., where he died of consumption, February 19th, 1859, 
in the 23d year of his age. This sad event took place about six 
months after he had finished his collegiate course, and at a time 
when he was well qualified to accomplish much good in the world. 
He was pleasant and agreeable in his disposition, energetic in 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


85 


whatever he undertook, and was gifted with a bright and active 
mind. His surviving friends are comforted in knowing that he 
was as well prepared to die as to live. Our brother possessed 
that grace which enables a Christian to meet his fate with courage, 
hope, and resignation. His body rests in the cemetery, at Lan- 
disburg, Pa., awaiting the resurrection of the just. 


JAMES DAVIS NOBLE, M. D. 

James D. Noble, the son of Hon. Joseph B. and Charlotte 
Davis Noble, was born at Licking Creek, Bedford (afterwards 
Fulton) County, Pa., on the 8th of August, 183T. His youth 
was spent, for the most part, in Bedford, where his father held the 
office of Prothonotary of the County, for ten years, and in Morri¬ 
son’s Cove, Bedford County, where his father engaged in farming, 
after retiring from office. James may be counted among the 
farmers’ sons, of whom we had many in our class. After 
working on the farm for a time, and attending the common school, 
he was instructed at Shade Gap Academy, by Rev. J. Y. Mc- 
Ginnes, and at Airy View Academy, Port Royal, Pa. In 1856, 
he entered Jefferson College, and joined us in our Sophomore 
year. After completing the course, he studied medicine under 
Dr. Luther Miller, of Welsh Run, Pa., and subsequently attended 
lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where 
he graduated in the Spring of 1861, just at the time when the 
country was in a state of excitement on account of the secession 
of a number of the Southern States. The war which followed, 
affected the destiny of Dr. Noble, as it did that of many of his 
classmates. 

Dr. Noble entered the Union Army, September 3d, ’61, as 
Assistant Surgeon of the 51st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
commanded by Col. J. F. Hartranft, and was with the “Burn¬ 
side Expedition” in North Carolina, and in the battles of Roa¬ 
noke Island and Newbern. On the return of the expedition, he 
resigned, and was honorably discharged, August 2d, 1862. 

He engaged in the practice of his profession, at Waterside, Pa., 
until 1865, when he again tendered his services to the Govern¬ 
ment, and was commissioned as an Assistant Surgeon in the 



86 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Navy, and assigned to service on the lower Mississippi. He 
served on the U. S. Gunboat “ Victory,” off Vicksburg, Miss , 
and afterwards, on the U. S. Receiving Ship, “Great Western,” 
at Mound City, Ill. He performed his laborious duties with 
fidelity and skill, and on his discharge, January 18th, 1866, 
received the thanks of the Department. 

Again returning home, he resumed the practice of his profession, 
at Pattonsville, Pa., his practice covering the same ground as 
w T hen at Waterside, and continued in it, at the same place, until 
his death. 

Dr. Noble was married, February 4th, 1869, to Miss Eliza J. 
Haderman, by whom he had four children, all of whom are still 
living. He died, March 14th, 18T4, and was buried in the ceme¬ 
tery of the German Reformed Church of Pattonsville, of which 
church he w^s a member. 

His character was so excellent and his career so honorable, 
that his classmates ought to cherish the memory of Dr. James D. 
Noble. He was a good and conscientious man, a learned and 
skillful physician, devoted to his profession, faithful to his patients, 
kind and attentive to the poor, brave and patriotic. He is fondly 
remembered by many soldiers, sailors, and others, once sick or 
wounded, to whom he ministered. Not his kindred only, but 
hundreds who knew him well in youth or manhood, lament his 
early death. 


GRIER C. ORR, Esq. 

Grier C. Orr was born in Kittanning, Pa., February 17th, 
1887. His father was Gen’l Robert Orr, a highly respected and 
distinguished citizen of Armstrong County, largely interested in 
the purchase and sale of lands, and twice representing his district 
in Congress. His mother was Martha Grier, a daughter of Rev. 
Isaac Grier, of Northumberland, Pa. Grier C. Orr made prepa¬ 
ration for college, at the Kittanning, Glade Run, and Elder’s 
Ridge Academies. Soon after his graduation at Jefferson, in 
1858, he entered as a student of law with Messrs. Golden and 
Fulton, at Kittanning, and was admitted to the bar, in March, 
1862. Ever since, he has resided at Ivittanning, and been en¬ 
gaged in the practice of his profession. 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


8T 


A distinguished gentleman of Armstrong County, Judge James 
B. Neale, writes as follows: “I have known for some time that 
you are preparing sketches of your classmates, among whom is 
my friend, Grier C. Orr. I know, moreover, how reluctant Mr. 
Orr is to say anything of himself. Indeed, his reticence in that 
respect, is both unjust to himself and scarcely fair to his friends. 
If you remember his college life, you will readily perceive that 
this diffidence is not new-born in him, hut is the natural outgrowth 
of his earliest disposition. 

“ Since he was admitted to the bar, he has rather avoided than 
sought a large practice, but notwithstanding this, many clients 
seek him out and thrust their business upon him. His general 
knowledge is so accurate, his mind so evenly balanced, and his 
judgment so clear that he cannot but command the confidence 
of all. 

“ Whilst possessing strong political convictions, Mr. Orr has 
never held nor aspired to any political office. The nomination as 
candidate for Congress was tendered and earnestly pressed upon 
him by the Democratic party, last Fall, but* he as earnestly 
declined the honor, although election was assured.” 

Our classmate is a man of social disposition and domestic tastes. 
And he is one of the favorites of fortune, the happy possessor of 
a good estate. ' But he abideth alone; he is a bachelor. We can¬ 
not account for this, unless he is too diffident to propose, or too 
easily discouraged, or is on the look-out for a maiden quite angelic. 
It may be, that next leap-year, some fair one of lovely character, 
who longs for a good husband, generous, true, and kind, will 
send him a sweetly-scented note, modestly suggesting a clasping 
of hands for the journey of life. Discovering how pretty, ami¬ 
able, and good she is, he may say: “Yes; we will go through 
the wmrld together.” 

Mr. Orr weighs 180 pounds, and is 5 ft. 10 inches in height. 


ROBERT BAIRD PATTERSON, Esq. 

A bright genius, a star of the first magnitude, was Robert B. 
Patterson. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., January 21st, 1841. 



88 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


He was the son of Joseph N. Patterson, and grandson of Rev. Robt. 
Patterson. His maternal grandfather was Hon. Th. H. Baird. 
He was possessed of intellectual endowments of the highest order, 
and was favored with superior educational advantages which he 
diligently improved. In his youth, he attended a classical school 
in Pittsburgh for a short time, and one in Washington City, 
D. C., where his father died in January, 1852, when Robert was 
eleven years old. He spent a year also in the Preparatory 
Department at Canonsburg. When he had completed the first 
term of the Freshman year at Jefferson, he went with his uncle, 
Professor Robert Patterson, to Oakland College, Mississippi, in 
December, 1854, and after two years’ study there, returned to 
Canonsburg, finished the regular course, and graduated with dis¬ 
tinction in 1858; the first honor of the largest class that ever left 
Jefferson College being divided between Robt. B. Patterson and 
Robt. H. White. For a short period after his graduation, he was 
employed in teaching at Kittanning, Pa., and in Concordia Parish, 
La. Making choice of the legal profession, he studied law in the 
office of Hon. Joshua F. Bell, at Danville, Ky., where he was 
admitted to the bar in 1862. Returning to Pennsylvania, he 
practiced law for five years at Greensburg, and subsequently, from 
1867, in partnership with Col. J. K. Kerr, at Pittsburgh. His 
ability as a lawyer, and his success in his profession, gave promise 
of a brilliant and prosperous career, and commanded the admira¬ 
tion and awakened the hopes of his kindred and friends. But, 
alas for human expectations! The future,, to us all unknown, sur¬ 
prises us with its strange revelations day by day. The strong 
and vigorous young man goes suddenly to the grave, whilst the 
sickly, the helpless, and the aged linger long in the world. 

By a terrible accident, on Saturday night, April 29th, 1871, 
the valuable life of Robt. B. Patterson was, in a moment, brought 
to an end. About eleven o’clock, he left a friend in Pittsburgh 
and crossed over the river, intending to spend the night with a 
relative in Allegheny. On his way, at the Sandusky street 
crossing of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad in Allegheny, he 
stepped upon the track, and there being, at that place, an un¬ 
guarded pitfall into a coal yard, he fell through and met with 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


89 


instant death. His lifeless remains were found early on Sabbath 
morning, and a surgical examination showed that two of the 
vertebrae of his neck had been fractured by the fall. On Monday, 
May 1st, his remains were conveyed to Washington, Pa., by his 
bereaved relatives, being accompanied to the railroad depot by 
almost the entire Bar, of which he was a member, by the Jackson 
Association, of which he was an officer, and by a large concourse 
of his friends. The next day, his body was laid to rest among 
the graves of his kindred in the beautiful cemetery at Washington. 

A meeting of the Pittsburgh Bar was held on Monday, May 
1st, 1871, at which resolutions were adopted and addresses made 
bearing testimony to the professional attainments, the gentlemanly 
manners, and the unsullied character of their late associate, Robt. 
B. Patterson. On the 10th of the same month, an obituary was 
published in the Presbyterian Banner , of Pittsburgh, in which 
the circumstances of his death were narrated and his character 
faithfully and beautifully described. 

Mr. Patterson was noted for the ease with which he acquired 
knowledge, and his power to retain that which he had learned. 
After a hasty perusal of a book he seemed to be familiar with its 
contents, and could pass a strict examination. He w*as exceed¬ 
ingly fond of reading. When a child, he would take a large book 
from his grandfather’s library, and stretch himself on the floor 
with the book before him, and spend hours in perusing it. Yet 
he was not averse to youthful sports and games, but entered into 
them with a great deal of spirit, and the result of his frequent 
exercise was the development of a fine physique. He was a lover 
of poetry and music. He often read or recited choice selections • 
of poetry for the entertainment of his friends, and sang, with 
much feeling and expression, the old, familiar songs and ballads. 
At college he w r as a general favorite with his fellow-students, and 
was highly esteemed by his professors. In the class-room, he 
sometimes appeared inattentive, but seldom failed to give the 
right answer when a question was put to him. Although so 
talented, he seemed to be free from self-conceit. In manhood he 
took quite an interest in politics, and his friends cherished a hope 
that he would become a statesman of no inferior order. 


90 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Contemplating his early and sudden death, one of the pleas¬ 
antest things that we remember concerning him is that he was a 
Christian. While a student at college, he made a public profession 
of his faith in Christ, and his sincerity was evidenced by his sub¬ 
sequent life, his love for the Scriptures, his regular attendance 
upon the services of God’s h«use, and his habits of private devo¬ 
tion. As classmates we deplore his death, but ours is not a 
hopeless grief. We believe that, with others who have gone from 
us, he is enjoying a blessed immortality. 


REV. GEORGE PAULL. 

For depth of piety, thoroughness of consecration, and loveliness 
of spirit and character, we have no one more distinguished than 
George Pauli. He was the second son of Joseph and Eliza Lee 
Pauli, and was born near Connellsville, Fayette County, Pa., 
February 3d, 183T. His boyhood was spent on his father’s farm. 
His Christian parents gave him the best of religious instruction 
and training. Before entering Jefferson College at Canonsburg, 
in ’55, he was taught by Rev. Ross Stevenson, was a student at 
Dunlap’s Creek Academy, and subsequently was instructed by 
Prof. John Frazer. In the 21st year of his age, in 1858, he 
completed his collegiate course. A few months before he gradu¬ 
ated, during a revival of religion in the college, he was converted, 
and, soon after, he united with the Presbyterian Church of Con- 
nellsville, of which his father was a ruling elder. After leaving 
college, he went to Mississippi, and, for a while, engaged in 
teaching, but realizing that he was called to preach the gospel, 
he returned and entered the Western Theological Seminary at 
Allegheny, where he graduated in April, 1862. A year before, 
he had been licensed by the Presbytery of Redstone. 

Mr. Pauli consecrated himself to the work of preaching the 
gospel to the heathen in Africa. He offered himself to the Pres¬ 
byterian Board of Foreign Missions and was accepted, but as the 
civil war had diminished the resources of the Board, he could not 
be sent on his mission immediately. He preached for a while in 
the Churches of Tyrone and Sewickley in his own Presbytery, and 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


91 


then took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Morrison, Illinois, 
where he was urged to stay. As soon as the Board was ready to 
send him to Africa, he was ready to go. At length the message 
came. In October, 1863, he was ordained, by the Presbytery of 
Redstone, as an evangelist for the missionary work. The war 
preventing vessels from sailing directly to Africa, he embarked 
at New York for Liverpool on the steamer “ City of London,” 
on the 28th of November, 1863. He spent two months in Eng¬ 
land and Scotland, visiting London, Glasgow, Edinburg, and 
other places of interest, of which his published letters contain a 
full account. But all the while Africa was in his thoughts and 
he was eager to sail thither. On February 9th, 1864, he took 
passage on the ship “Elgiva” from Glasgow to the island of 
Corisco on the west coast of Africa. The voyage lasted three 
months. During that time he read a number of instructive books, 
and preached as often as he could to the passengers and crew. 
The ship arrived at Fernando Po, April 13th, and there he was 
distressed by the receipt of a letter informing him of the death 
of his brother Aaron, a soldier in the Union Army, who was for 
two or three years our classmate. He reached Corisco safely, 
May 6th, 1864, and then recorded his gratitude to God for send¬ 
ing and preserving him. 

Soon after Mr. Pauli’s arrival on the island of Corisco, he 
wrote these lines: “Never for an hour since I left America have 
I doubted that I was in the path of duty, nor ever have I been 
happier in my life than I am now in the contemplation of this, I 
trust, my life work among the heathen.” His home, for several 
months, was at Evangasimba, a mission station at the sea-side. 
He was welcomed to Corisco by Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Mackey, 
Rev. Mr. De Heer, Dr. Nassau, Rev. Mr. Clark, and Mrs. 
McQueen, missionaries, and their native helpers. With the 
assistance of an interpreter, Mr. Pauli soon began to preach. He 
entered upon his labors with a great deal of enthusiasm and de¬ 
light. He often visited Alongo and Ugobi, mission stations at 
the northern and southern extremities of the island, and preached 
to the natives there and in many of their villages. Occasionally 
he crossed over to the mainland and visited the stations scattered 


92 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


for about fifty miles along the African coast. He had a few slight 
attacks of fever, but for the most part enjoyed good health. 
About two months after his arrival at Corisco, he wrote: “ My 
health is good, perhaps has never been better. I feel no lassitude, 
as I thought I should; sometimes I feel a little depression of 
spirits, which I had been free from for the last four or five years, 
but, perhaps, when I get to work thoroughly, this may pass away. 
I am glad that I have the opportunity of preaching some as I study 
the language. I feel that I am at my proper work only when I 
am preaching. I expect to keep up the habit of preaching in 
the towns, at least one day in the week besides the Sabbath. If I 
did not do this, I should feel depressed with the thought that I am 
doing nothing, and I seem to be doing almost nothing as it is.” 

Owing to the return of Mr. Mackey to America, Mr. Pauli was 
made treasurer of the mission, and put in charge of the goods and 
supplies, shortly after his arrival at Corisco. 

And now we come to the last chapter in the life of the young 
missionary. In December, 1864, it was decided to establish a 
mission station among the Kombes, at Benita, about 50 miles up 
the coast from the island of Corisco. This important .work was 
committed to Mr. Pauli. He wrote to his mother, January 15th, 
1865: “ You will not be grieved when I tell you that God has 
brought me into high honor, the highest by far of my life,—that 
is to leave my home and my comforts again, and go to live among 
the heathen anew. This will not give you sorrow, I know, be¬ 
cause it will give me more happiness and joy than aught else 
almost that I could name on earth. The Mission, at our last 
meeting, appointed me as the pioneer of the work on the main¬ 
land. Others would willingly have gone, but God gave the privi¬ 
lege to me, and indeed his providence has gradually been opening 
up my way ever since I came. For the last few days I have been 
packing boxes with tools for building and goods for trade, and 
next week I am to set sail for the mouth of the Benita, that 
beautiful spot on which I am to build. Mr. and Mrs. Mackey 
will, possibly, take the trip with me, and see me safely landed. 
As for loneliness, that will not trouble me; and the slight fevers 
which come, I have learned to check; so with trust in God I shall 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


98 


do well. The plan of my house I have drawn off to send to you. 
It will be built of bamboo, with board floors. The reception room 
is made large, as it will be the preaching place. The kitchen will 
be outside, and a little hut will answer for that. It is to be built 
above ground, on mangrove posts. I suppose it will take about 
two months to finish it; and, in the meantime, I expect to live in 
a native house. So far as comforts go, I shall have enough in 
every way, for I do not expect many. Our new mission station 
among the Kombes will require some outlay, and the Board is 
pressed for funds. If matters become worse, I think I could live 
on half my salary, and I would gladly do it to help on the cause; 
but this need not have been spoken of.” 

“ January 17th, 1865. I must append a note on the eve of 
starting. In the morning I expect to go. We had a delightful 
prayer-meeting to-night, which strengthened my heart, and I go 
to my work full of peace and joy, and hopeful that I may gather 
some sheaves from the great ripened harvest. Do not think of me 
as in the least sad or lonely. I almost feel sure that I shall not 
be either. God has been preparing me, hitherto, for all that is to 
come upon me. I shall have good company in the presence of 
Him who has said, ‘ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ ‘Lo, 
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ And I 
doubt not I will learn more of this kind Friend, when my fellow¬ 
ship must be almost solely with him.” 

Mr. Pauli and his helpers reached Benita River Station safely, 
after a few days’ sailing. He called old King Mango and the 
head men together and bought a piece of ground for the use of the 
Mission. The ground selected was elevated, fanned by sea breezes, 
and commanded a good view of the river and ocean; on it were 
never-failing springs, and back of it stretched a treeless plateau, 
something uncommon in that part of Africa. The spot was lovely, 
and Mr. Pauli was delighted with it. He set men at work imme¬ 
diately to hew timber and build a house, while he not only super¬ 
intended the work, but engaged in it. Not content with this 
labor, Mr. Pauli exerted himself almost daily in preaching to the 
heathen, a number of whom were converted and gave clear evi¬ 
dence of a change of heart. 


94 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


In the latter part of April, Mr. Pauli occupied the new build¬ 
ing which he began in January; but he did not occupy it long. 
Toil and exposure brought on an attack of the African fever which 
ended the life of the young missionary on the 14th of May, 1865, 
four months after he settled at Benita, and one year after his 
arrival at Corisco. In the 29th year of his. age, George Pauli 
was called from earth to heaven. He died on Sabbath morning, 
while the converted heathen were engaged in worship close by. 
His death was sorely lamented by the natives, by the missionaries, 
and by many hundreds of Christians at home. One of his last 
utterances was, “ Oh, for more consecration to the cause of Christ! 
I wish only to cast myself at his feet and feel that he is my all.” 
His body was transported to Corisco, and interred in the Mission 
cemetery there. Two oleanders, planted by loving hands, one at 
the head and the other at the foot of his grave, now bloom monthly 
in fragrant beauty. There stands a marble monument, on which 
is chiseled a cross and crown, and this inscription: “Rev. George 
Pauli; born, February 3d, 1837; died, May 14th, 1865. And I 
heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who 
will go for us ? Then said he, Here am I, send me.— Isaiah yi, 8.” 

Mr. Pauli was a man of portly and commanding presence. 
He had a sweet and persuasive voice. He was possessed of fine 
intellectual endowments, and his mind was enriched by a liberal 
course of study. He was an earnest, tender, practical preacher. 
In disposition, he resembled the saintly McCheyne, and “ that 
disciple whom Jesus loved.” He was humble, unselfish, zealous, 
devout, and withal wholly consecrated to the work of serving 
Christ and winning souls. Dr. M. W. Jacobus said of him: 
“Always genial and faithful, studious and spiritual, he evinced 
the spirit of his Master in an eminent degree.” Dr. W. S. Plu- 
mer wrote: “I knew dear George, not only as a pupil, but as a 
friend. He was always remarkable for unaffected simplicity and 
godly sincerity, since I first knew him. His course was short, 
but it ended in glory.” Dr. Samuel J. Wilson said of Mr. Pauli: 
“Few men of his age have evinced such weanedness from the 
world and devotion to Christ, such wakeful, tireless sympathy 
with all efforts to sow the seeds of salvation beside all waters, even 
to the remotest parts of the pagan world.” 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


95 


With his gifts and graces, he might ha^e adorned one of the 
prominent pulpits of his own country, and become a famous and 
successful preacher, but moved with pity for the poor, perishing 
heathen, he crossed the sea, and in Africa laid down his life 
among the people whom he sought to save. 

The Presbyterian Board in Philadelphia, has published a book 
entitled, George Pauli , of Benita , by Rev. Dr. Samuel Wilson, 
from which your historian has gathered many facts concerning 
our lamented classmate. 

EDIE STEWART POLLOCK. 

The parents of E. S. Pollock were natives of Clarion County, 
Pa., and resided on a farm, where he was born, December 14th, 
1835. Like many of his classmates, he passed his boyhood on 
the farm, laboring in the Summer, and attending public school in 
the Winter. In his eighteenth year, he attended one term at 
“Witherspoon Institute,” Butler, Pa., and the following year, 
entered Elder’s Ridge Academy, where he remained until 1856, 
when he was admitted to the Junior Class at Jefferson College. 
After finishing his collegiate course, he went. South, and taught 
school in Somerset, Kentucky; but returned home the next year, 
and was for a time engaged in the oil business. During the war, 
he was employed in various capacities, civil and military, residing 
much of the time in Lock Haven and Williamsport, Pa., and 
Washington, D. C. At the close of the war, he returned to Lock 
Haven, where he engaged in the coal trade. 

In 1869, he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Reve¬ 
nue, which position he resigned in 1870, to accept an appointment 
in the Clerk’s Office, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. 
He held that position, until he received his present appointment 
in the First Auditor’s Office, in the Treasury Department, at the 
National Capital. The fact that he has been fourteen years con¬ 
tinuously in the Government service, during several Administra¬ 
tions, is evidence of his fidelity and efficiency. 

When our friend was engaged in the coal business at Lock 
Haven, a peculiar flame was started within his breast, more con¬ 
stant and enduring than that which is produced by the anthracite 



96 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


or bituminous substance. There was a young lady in the town 
who could prevent the flame from destroying his peace and 
happiness. This fact being made known to her, she kindly con¬ 
sented to become his wife. In 1868, he w r as married to Miss 
Sallie Dubois, of Lock Haven, daughter of James Dubois, formerly 
of Philadelphia. Their wedded life has been blessed with three 
children, of whom a son and a daughter are still living. 

Our representative in the Treasury Department weighs 160 
pounds, and his height is 5 ft. 8 inches. 


REV. FRANCIS J. C. SCHNEIDER. 

F. J. C. Schneider belongs to our little band of missionaries 
whom we hold in high esteem. He was born in Prussia, in the 
City of Erfurth, March 29th, 1882, and when he was not quite 
eight years of age, was brought to the United States by his pa¬ 
rents, who settled in Pittsburgh. He was taught to read and 
write in his native country. At Pittsburgh, he attended public 
school about six years, and after being engaged in various employ¬ 
ments, was indentured to a tinner, when he was a little over 
sixteen years of age. He served his time, four and a half years, 
and worked about a year as journeyman. In April, 1854, he 
entered Glade Run Academy, Armstrong County, Pa., and two 
years after, joined us at Jefferson, when we were Juniors. After 
completing his collegiate course, he went to the Western Theo¬ 
logical Seminary, in Allegheny, where he graduated in 1861. In 
the Summer of that year, he preached, as he had opportunity, in 
Nicholas and Fayette Counties, West Virginia. Being appointed 
a missionary to Brazil, by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign 
Missions, he was ordained, at Kittanning, Pa., in October, 1861, 
by the Presbytery of Saltsburg. From the time of his arrival in 
Brazil, in December, 1861, until his return to the United States, 
in March, 1877, he preached regularly in English, German, and 
Portuguese, but mostly in the last-named language. He labored 
in San Juan de Rio Claro, and vicinity (province of San Paulo); 
Rio de Janeiro; San Paulo City, and vicinity; and in the cities 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


97 


of Bahia, Cachoreira, and Nazareth, in the province of Bahia. 
From April, 1877, to May, 1881, he lived in Brooklyn, N. Y., 
working part of the time as translator and proof-reader on the 
Novo Mundo , and the Revista Illustrada , two Portuguese papers, 
formerly published in New York for circulation in Brazil; and 
working for a while as book-keeper, translator, and proof-reader 
for the publishers of the Musical Review. Since his return to 
Brazil, in July, 1881, he has been employed in teaching. 

Mr. Schneider has published a number of his sermons in Portu¬ 
guese, and has prepared for the press translations into that language 
of Seymour’s Evenings with the Romanists , two volumes of 
D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation , a Catechism for Chil¬ 
dren , and some pamphlets and tracts. He took through their 
classical, scientific, and mathematical course, four young men, 
Portuguese, now members of the Presbytery of Rio de Janeiro, 
and pastors of churches. For a time, he was editor, or co-editor 
of the Imprensa Evangelica , a religious paper in Portuguese, 
now in its nineteenth year, published by the Presbyterian Mission, 
with a circulation of 1000 copies. 

He was married in the City of San Paulo, Brazil, March 22d, 
1864, to Ella Grace Kingsley, by whom he has had seven children, 
four of whom survive. This marriage was a very unhappy one. 
Their domestic infelicities reached a crisis in December, 1878, 
when the wife abandoned the house of her husband, in Brooklyn, 
N. Y., and applied to the Court for a limited divorce, and a sepa¬ 
rate maintenance for herself and children, at his expense, After 
wearisome litigation, lasting more than two years, and causing a 
great waste of his time and money, a final decision was rendered 
in his favor, denying all of her demands. She did not return to 
him, as the dove did to Noah in the ark. After waiting for a 
reasonable time in Brooklyn for the appearance of his other half, 
Mr. Schneider returned alone to Brazil, where he has many friends. 
Since that time he has had a professorship at San Paulo. 

We do not know whether his wife reduced his rations, with the 
design of having a permanent separation without a divorce, but it 
is a fact, that our Germanic classmate only weighs 128 pounds. 
His height is 5 ft. 6 inches. 


98 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


When we graduated, the Faculty bestowed the third honor upon 
Mr. Schneider, and he deserved it. In the mission field, he has 
performed many valuable services as preacher, teacher, translator, 
and editor. May he live to see the fruits of his labors, in the 
increase of intelligence and pure religion in Brazil. 


PROF. JOHN SIMPSON, Ph. D. 

John Simpson is a native of Ohio, and was born in Richland 
County, June 26th, 1829. His father, Samuel Simpson, was a 
native of Beaver County, Pa., and his mother, Catharine Hout, 
of Martinsburg, Va. He received his preparatory education at 
Vermillion Institute, Hayesville, Ohio, and entered our Class at 
the beginning of our Senior year. Since his graduation at Jef¬ 
ferson College, his life has been devoted to the cause of education, 
and he has achieved distinction as a teacher. He was first em¬ 
ployed at an academy at Millersburg, Ohio. About 1860 he be¬ 
gan to teach in the Hayesville Institute, and in a short time was 
installed as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. Subse¬ 
quently, he was elected President of that Institution, and in this 
capacity served until 1871, when he became Principal of the 
Fourth Ward public schools of Mansfield, Ohio. His services 
were so satisfactory that the Board of Education soon elected him 
Superintendent of Instruction in Mansfield. Having been re¬ 
elected, he has held that honorable and responsible position for 
more than ten years. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy was 
conferred upon him by the University of Wooster. 

One day our mathematical friend discovered that “two are 
better than one,” and that he was a minus quantity without a 
wife. About that time he saw a figure, not down in the books, 
that filled his eye and upset his philosophy. A short calculation 
convinced him that by a process of subtraction, he could add to 
his comfort and multiply his joys, without dividing his affections. 
Further reflection led him to the conclusion that the figure re¬ 
ferred to was of more consequence to him than any other within 
the circle of his acquaintance. The final result was X + Y—a V 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


99 


for the preacher. The Professor was married to Miss Millie J. 
Stringer, of Ashland County, Ohio, December 25th, 1862. They 
have three daughters, Mary Blanche, Helen Augusta, and Ger¬ 
trude. In twenty-five years, Prof. Simpson has not lost more 
than two months’ time from school labor. 


FRANCIS MARION SLEMONS, M. D. 

The birth-place of F. M. Slemons was a farm, four miles from 
Salisbury, in Somerset, now Wicomico, County, Maryland. He was 
born August 12th, 1839. His father, John B., the son of Rev. 
John B. Slemons, was a native of Somerset County, and for many 
years an elder in the Wicomico Presbyterian Church of Salisbury. 
The maiden name of his mother was Martha Jane Bennett. Un¬ 
til he was ten years of age, he attended the primary school near 
his home ; he was then sent for a year to a school at Georgetown, 
in the District of Columbia, taught by Rev. T. W. Simpson, and 
after leaving that school, in 1850, he was a pupil for six years at 
Salisbury Academy. In 1856 he entered the Junior Class at 
Canonsburg, Pa. In vacations, during his student life, he was 
accustomed to work on the farm. His mother died in 1843, and 
his father in 1850. 

Soon after the completion of his collegiate course, Mr. Slemons 
began the study of medicine under Dr. L. W. Morris, at Fork- 
town, Maryland. He entered the medical department of the 
University of Maryland, at Baltimore, in October, 1858, and 
graduated in March, 1860. Since that time he has practiced 
medicine at Forktown six years, and at Salisbury seventeen. He 
has been a member of the Presbyterian Church at Salisbury for 
twenty years, and an elder in the same for eight years. In the 
eldership he may be regarded as the successor of his father. 

An attractive maiden lived in the town where the young phy¬ 
sician first hung out his sign and waited patiently for patients. It 
was Miss Mattie A. Morris, daughter of Jephtha Morris, to whom 
the doctor was married at Forktown, Md., May 15th, 1861. In 
their wedded life, they have experienced sorrow as well as joy. 
Five of their beloved children they diave followed to the grave; 

i * J 



100 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


three remain to gladden their home,—a daughter and two sons. 
May a merciful Providence protect the surviving ones from disease, 
accident, and death, that they may give joy and comfort to their 
parents in future years. 

Dr. Slemons is highly esteemed by the people of his present 
and former places of residence, on account of his many good quali¬ 
ties and his professional attainments. 

Living in a region where choice fruits and vegetables are exten¬ 
sively raised for the Philadelphia and New York markets, he feeds 
on the fat of the land. He weighs 185 pounds, and his height is 
5 ft. 71 in. _ 


REV. NELSON H. SMITH. 

N. H. Smith, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Cepley Smith, 
was born, May 9th, 1830, in the neighborhood of Blairsville, 
Pa. After making preparation at Dr. Hervey’s Academy at 
Martinsburg, Ohio, he entered Hanover College in Indiana, and 
after studying there for a while, he was obliged to teach for a year 
in order to acquire means to complete his course. On account of 
absence, he fell behind his class, and this influenced him to leave 
Hanover and enter Jefferson College, which he did in 1855. In 
the Summer of 1858 he graduated. Desiring to preach the gos¬ 
pel, he studied at the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, 
and was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, in April, 1860. 

Since he left the Seminary, Mr. Smith has lived the greater 
part of the time in Missouri, where he was engaged in pastoral 
work, and occasionally in teaching. It was in the Winter of 1863 
that he settled in Missouri. From that time until 1868, he had 
charge of the Presbyterian Churches of Oregon and Forest City, 
Mo. While preaching there, he was ordained as an Evangelist 
by the Presbytery of Highland, in April, 1865. In the years 
’68—’69 he had charge of the Church of Cameron, in Clinton 
County, Mo., and he taught school at the same time. The year 
following, he served as Presbyterial Missionary. He preached at 
Albany, Mo., in ’71 and ’72. He had charge of the Church of 
Fillmore, Mo., from ’73 to ’80, and in connection with it, the 
Church of New Hope, for foun years, and the Church of Heckberry 
for three years. ' J 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


101 


The condition of his health required a change of climate. In 
the Spring of 1880, Mr. Smith left Missouri, went South, and 
located in Georgia, where he has charge of four churches in con¬ 
nection with the Southern Presbyterian Church. His home is at 
Gainesville, Hall County, Ga. 

Three important events in his history happened while he resided 
in Missouri. He was married May 1st, 1865, at Oregon, Mo., 
to Miss Jennie N. Lloyd, daughter of Rev. Absalom Lloyd, of 
Virginia. Along with Rev. A. P. Forman and Rev. J. N. Young, 
Mr. Smith was appointed by the Presbyterian General Assembly 
to organize the Presbytery of Upper Missouri. In 1867 he was 
elected, by the new Presbytery, a delegate to the General 
Assembly which met at Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Mr. Smith weighs 145 pounds, and his height is 5 ft. 8 in. At 
present he is not enjoying very good health. 


JOSEPH NORRIS SMITH. 

Jos. N. Smith was born at Frederick City, Maryland, February 
2d, 1840. His father, Rev. Joseph Smith, D. D., well known as 
the author of the History of Jefferson College , and the History 
of the Presbytery of Redstone , was the son of Rev. Robert Smith 
and the grandson of Rev. Joseph Smith, of Westmoreland County, 
Pa. His mother, Eliza Bell Smith, was the daughter of John 
Bell, Esq., of Winchester, Va. After spending a year as a 
student at Elder’s Ridge Academy, he entered the Sophomore 
Class at Jefferson College, and completed the curriculum. De¬ 
scended from clerical ancestors, being the son of a clergyman, the 
grandson of another, and the great-grandson of another, and bear¬ 
ing the name of his father and great-grandfather, we might presume, 
according to true apostolic succession, that our classmate, Joseph, 
would have become a preacher of the gospel. Such, we believe, 
was his intention. Having the ministry in view, he entered the 
Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, but his health fail¬ 
ing he was compelled to choose another profession. He adopted 
the useful and honorable occupation of a teacher. He taught at 
various places in Eastern Pennsylvania. He has contributed to 



102 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


the press, a number of articles on educational topics, in the locali¬ 
ties where he has been engaged in teaching. On account of ill- 
health, he gave up teaching and went to New Mexico a year ago, 
but last Winter returned home, not being improved by the trip. 
Afterward, he lived with his brother-in-law, Rev. J. C. Barr, at 
Charleston, Kanawha County, W. Ya. Since November, 1883, 
he has been teaching at Rockbridge Baths, Rock County, Va. 


REV. JOHN W. SPROULL. 

John Wallace Sproull was born in Allegheny City, Pa., Janu¬ 
ary 17th, 1839. He is the son of Rev. Thomas Sproull, H. D., 
and Magdalena Wallace Sprpull. His father is widely known as 
the learned Professor of Theology in the Reformed Presbyterian 
Seminary of Allegheny. Before going to Canonsburg, John was 
a student at Westminster College, in his native city. He joined 
our Class in the Junior year. After graduating at Jefferson, he 
served for one year as Professor of Languages in Fayetteville 
Academy. He studied theology in the Seminary in which his 
father was a Professor. For a number of years, he has been the 
efficient pastor of the Central Reformed Presbyterian Church of 
Allegheny, and an editor and proprietor of The Reformed Pres¬ 
byterian and Covenanter , a monthly magazine, published in Pitts¬ 
burgh. Three hundred and thirty-three persons have been added 
to the membership of his church during the past twelve years. 
He has been over the sea, and has traveled through Europe. He 
married Miss Anna M. Stuart, June 26th, 1879. They lament 
the loss of an infant daughter who died February 11th, 1881. 
John is 5 ft. 9J in. in height, and weighs 140 pounds. 


WILLIAM AIKEN STARRETT, Esq. 

The second honor of our Class was divided between Wm. A. 
Starrett and Mordecai B. Massey. The former was born at 
Fayette, Allegheny County, Pa., January 3d, 1834. After he 
had finished his collegiate course at Jefferson, he spent three years 
at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in April, 




JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


103 


1862. He was raised in the United Presbyterian Church, but 
entered the ministry in the Presbyterian Church. He married a 
daughter of Dr. Aiken, formerly pastor of one of the United Pres¬ 
byterian Churches of Pittsburgh. Mr. Starrett was engaged as a 
Professor at Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1863. Removing from 
there in 1864, he became pastor of the Union, now First Presby¬ 
terian, Church of Lawrence, and served that congregation for six 
years. A change having taken place in his doctrinal views, he 
demitted the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and resigned 
his pastorate in 1870. From 1869 to ’71 he was Superintendent 
of Public Instruction in Douglas County, Kansas. For some 
time he was editor of the Kansas Daily Tribune. He is now 
practicing law in Chicago, Illinois, having his office at No. 42 
Lakeside Building. 

Mr. Starrett represented the Franklin Literary Society of Jef¬ 
ferson College, in 1858, in the contest with the Philo Literary 
Society, a^d gained the honor in the debate. 

His wife is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence. Some 
years ago, she was engaged in lecturing in Kansas, and is now 
editing a magazine in Chicago. They have a large family. 


PROF. JAMES ALBERT STEWART. 

James A. Stewart is a Pennsylvanian, and was born in Shaver’s 
Creek Valley, Huntingdon County, September 23d, 1834. Both 
before and after he began to acquire an education, he found em¬ 
ployment on his father’s farm, and this labor, in the pure moun¬ 
tain air, was of great and lasting benefit to him. His father, who 
was a good Christian and an elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
had the confidence and respect of the people among whom he lived, 
and was often called upQn to act as executor, administrator, and 
guardian; and, in the discharge of his duties, felt the need of an 
education more complete than he had enjoyed, and he was disposed 
to give his son the advantages of a liberal course of study ; and 
the son, having a fondness for books, gladly availed himself of 
the offer. James was sent to Milnwood Academy at Shade Gap, 
in his native county, in October, 1849. There he studied for 



104 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


several years, under the direction of Rev. J. Y. McGinnis. He 
spent the year 1853-’4 in the preparatory department at Can- 
onsburg, and the next year was a pupil at Airy View Academy, 
Perryville, Pa. Detained at home for a while by an attack of 
chills and fever, contracted at Perryville, he studied in private 
under Rev. R. Curran, pastor of Bethel and Petersburg congre¬ 
gations. In 1856 he entered the Junior Class at Jefferson, and, 
after two years, finished the course. 

In January, 1859, he became Principal of Robeson Institute, 
St. Paul’s, North Carolina, and there labored until June, 1861, 
when the disturbance caused by the war made it necessary for 
him to close his school and return to Pennsylvania. As the armies 
occupied the country, he had some difficulty in getting through the 
lines on his homeward journey. On account of his father’s death, 
which occurred in 1862, he remained on the farm during the war. 

In October, 1865, he began to teach in Sewickley Academy, in 
Westmoreland County, Pa. After two years’ service there, he 
taught for one year for Rev. S. A. Gailev, at West Nottingham 
Academy, Maryland. After that he was Principal of the Public 
Schools at Milton, Pa. From September, 1869, to April, 1874, 
he had charge of Logan Academy at Bell’s Mills, near Altoona, 
Pa. Since April, 1874, he has been Principal of an academy 
at Hollidaysburg, Pa. For twenty years he has been usefully 
employed in teaching, and during that period has met with much 
encouragement and success. 

When James left college, he left his heart behind him, and in a 
little over a year, he returned to Canonsburg to see what had be¬ 
come of it. He found it, not far from “Fort Job,” in the posses¬ 
sion of a maiden who was more willing to exchange than surrender. 
The matter was amicably arranged. It was thought that a fair 
exchange was no robbery. He was married to Miss Mattie J. 
Murphy, of Canonsburg, December 29th, 1859. At that time 
he had charge of an academy in North Carolina. To show how 
unevenly favors are distributed in this world, we may mention 
that to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been given nine children, and 
of this number, seven survive. Their father has set them an ex¬ 
ample of diligence, perseverance, and usefulness which they will 
do well to imitate. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


105 


REV. ROBERT CRAIN STEWART. 

R. C. Stewart, a farmer’s son, the eldest of ten children, was 
horn March 14th, 1830, in West Hanover, Dauphin County, Pa., 
about nine miles from Harrisburg. His parents were members of 
the Presbyterian Church. They both v died in 1878; the father 
in June, at the age of 83; the mother in July, at the age of 72. In 
his youth, Robert performed the w r ork that usually falls to the lot 
of a farmer’s boy. Seeking an education, he studied for a while 
at Elder’s Ridge Academy, and was there prepared to enter the 
Junior Class at Jefferson in 1856. His preparation for the min¬ 
istry was made at the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny, 
where he graduated in 1861. At the end of his second year at 
the Seminary, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of 
Saltsburg. 

During his ministry, Mr. Stewart has performed a great deal of 
home missionary work, preaching to feeble churches, and having 
as many as three or four under his care at the same time. He 
has labored principally in Ohio and West Virginia. Until 1869 
he had charge of the Presbyterian Churches of Barlow, Decatur, 
and Plymouth, in the Presbytery of Hocking, Ohio. In 1870 he 
went to West Virginia, and took charge of the Churches of West 
Columbia, Upper Flats, Point Pleasant, and Pleasant Flats. In 
1874 he returned to Ohio, united with the Presbytery of Athens, 
and has labored within its bounds ever since, having charge of the 
Churches of Syracuse, Bashan, Chester, Decatur, Tupper’s Plains, 
and Carthage, three or four at once. Large ingatherings have 
occurred at times, giving him gratification and encouragement. 
In 1877 he received on profession of their faith, 46 at Tupper’s 
Plains ; in 1879 at Decatur, 44; in 1880 at Syracuse, 18. 

Separated from his home and his fellow-students, Robert felt 
very lonely at times after he entered the ministry. He did not 
confess it to everybody, but he longed for a companion, a coun¬ 
selor, a helper, one to cheer him in his hours of perplexity and 
despondency. To a young lady whom he chanced to meet, he 
described his condition in such a pathetic manner, that her sym¬ 
pathies were aroused and she became interested in his welfare. 


106 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


At length she consented to become his wife. He was married at 
Richmond, Indiana, October 27th, 1864, to Miss Mary Fulghum. 
In a pleasant home of his own, with mother, Robert, William, 
Merle, and Edith around him, he seems quite contented and does 
not complain of loneliness any more. The boys declare that they 
wish to be as large as their father, and he is 5 ft. 6 in. in height, 
and weighs 150 pounds. 

In 1868, and again in 1881, Mr. Stewart was chosen to repre¬ 
sent his Presbytery in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church. In August, 1883, both he and his wife had an attack 
of typhoid fever. He was unable to preach for five months. 


REV. WILLIAM MERCER TAYLOR. 

W. M. Taylor, a farmer’s son, was born March 4th, 1834, in 
a log cabin a mile west of Enon Valley, in Lawrence, formerly 
Beaver, County, Pa. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. 
Until he was eighteen years of age, he assisted his father on the 
farm and attended the district school. His preparation for college 
was made at Hiram Eclectic Institute in Ohio. One of his 
teachers at that Institute was James A. Garfield, late President of 
the United States; and Mr. Taylor is of the opinion that he never 
had a better teacher. He entered Jefferson College in 1856, and 
after completing the course, went to the Western Theological 
Seminary in Allegheny, where he graduated in 1861. 

A remarkable thing in relation to Mr. Taylor is that he has re¬ 
sided in the same place,—Mount Jackson, Lawrence County, Pa., 
and preached to the same congregation, Westfield Presbyterian 
Church,—ever since he left the seminary, a period of 22 years. 
During that period, he has received 500 persons into the church, 
of whom 300 united by profession ; and the contributions of the 
people for congregational and benevolent purposes have amounted 
to $50,000. Such a record speaks well for ^pastor and people. 

On the 21st of May, 1861, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage 
to Miss Lorinda Packer, at Hiram, Ohio. 

In 1878, Mr. Taylor and his wife spent six and a half months 
in visiting Europe, Egypt, Palestine, and Asia Minor,—a tour 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


107 


they greatly enjoyed. After his return, he lectured about thirty 
times on his travels. In his voyages, he has had the privilege of 
preaching to his fellow-passengers on Lake Superior, the Atlantic 
Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. 

During the war, he visited the army twice in the service of the 
Christian Commission, first the Army of the Cumberland, and 
afterwards the Army of the Potomac, and at each visit he preached 
to the soldiers. 

Several revivals have occurred in his church during his ministry. 
At one time 45 persons were converted, at another 34, at another 
37. 

A few years ago, Mr. Taylor was elected Moderator of the 
Synod of Erie. He has been chosen twice to represent his Pres¬ 
bytery in the General Assembly. 

Among the productions of his pen, which have been published, 
may be mentioned a Sunday-school address, two or three sermons, 
some newspaper articles, and letters from Europe. 

He weighs 143J pounds, and is 5 ft. 10 in. in height. 

Since our Class Re-union, Mr. Taylor has been bereaved of his 
beloved companion, with whom he lived happily for more than 22 
years. She died very suddenly, of heart disease, on Monday, 
August 6th, 1883. She was a good woman, a faithful, helpful, 
and affectionate wife. 


JOHN FRANCIS TEMPLETON, Esq. 

Among the beloved classmates who have gone from us to return 
no more, is John Francis Templeton. His father, John Temple¬ 
ton, for whom he was named, was united in marriage to Amanda 
Maloina Dawson. Their son, John Francis, was born, August 
20th, 1835, in the City of Vicksburg, Miss. He was prepared 
for college at St. Andrews, Jackson, Miss., and at Oakland, Miss. 
In 1854, he entered the Freshman Class at Jefferson. He was 
an impulsive, high-spirited, generous-hearted young man, strongly 
attached to his native State and City, and to the people of the 
South, and an earnest advocate of Southern rights, and defender 
of Southern institutions. Many were the discussions which he 



108 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


had with collegemates about slavery and States’ rights, and other 
exciting questions in the days before the war. Often, such topics 
w T ere introduced, just for the purpose of seeing him “fire up,” and 
of hearing him express his opinions in a very emphatic way. He 
was with us several years at Jefferson, and we knew him inti¬ 
mately, and esteemed him very highly as a friend and a gentleman. 
When he graduated, the subject of his Commencement speech 
was “Nullification;” and he left no one in doubt as to his 
sentiments. 

After completing his course at college, Mr. Templeton went 
South, and settled in Louisiana, in the town of Richmond, where 
he studied under Wm. S. Parham, Esq., and, after graduating at 
a school in New Orleans, practiced law. When the war broke 
out, he enlisted in a Vicksburg company, and served four years 
in the Army of Virginia, in the service of the Confederate Gov¬ 
ernment. At the close of the war, he returned to Vicksburg, and 
at the time of his death, which occurred August 18th, 1871, he 
was employed as a clerk in the house of Cully & Bolls, grocers. 
Mr. Templeton was a victim of the yellow fever plague, and was 
sick only five days. He was unmarried, and was the last survi¬ 
ving member of his immediate family. During his residence at 
Vicksburg, he was in the habit of attending regularly the services 
of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and on his death-bed, he made 
a profession of his faith, and was baptized by the Rector, Dr. 
Lord. His remains were interred at Vicksburg, accompanied to 
the grave by a large number of the best citizens, who lamented 
the loss of a brave soldier, a true friend, and an honorable man. 
Upon his tombstone is the following inscription: “ Holiness to the 
Lord. In memory of J. F. Templeton. Born, August 20th, 
1835. Died in Vicksburg, August 18th, 1871. ‘Blessed are 
the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ ” 

For the facts mentioned, we are indebted to Miss Rosa Green, 
of Vicksburg, a cousin of Mr. Templeton. The Vicksburg 
Herald , of Tuesday,. August 22d, 1871, contained the following 
account of his funeral: “The mortal remains of John Francis 
Templeton were consigned to their last resting-place, Sunday 
afternoon, and rarely have we witnessed a more feeling tribute to 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


109 


the memory of the dead, than was paid to the memory of Frank 
Templeton. The Chapel of the Church of the Holy Trinity was 
crowded to its utmost capacity, and whatever this city possesses 
of talent, worth, refinement, culture, and courage, was abundantly 
represented by those assembled last Sunday afternoon, to pay 
the last sad tribute to one who was widely honored and beloved. 

‘‘Frank Templeton, by his many manly and generous qualities, 
by his gentleness and truth, by his intelligence and modesty, by 
his honor and courage, his love of the right, and his scorn of the 
wrong, had attached to him the hearts of both sexes, and all 
•classes of this community, in a very extraordinary degree. He 
had so borne himself, that the community stood around his coffin 
with sad hearts, and when Dr. Lord apostrophised him, in truthful 
and eloquent words, there was scarcely a dry eye in the church. 
The beautiful burial service of the Masonic Fraternity was per¬ 
formed at the grave, in the presence of a large number of the 
brethren of the mystic tie, and a host of ‘brothers of battle,’ 
who had stood by his side ’mid the storm of war, when ‘ blood 
ran free as festal wine.’ 

“Here is the eloquent tribute of the Rev. Dr. Lord: “This 
evening, another and younger man will leave this chapel to return 
no more. His gentle and manly qualities had given him a place 
in the heart of him who speaks to you, and in many a heart of 
young and old in this community. 

“A child of Vicksburg, he never disgraced his birthplace; and 
as he was respected in life, he will be honored in death. Many 
a companion of the mystic tie will say, to day, ‘Alas, my brother! ’ 
Many a comrade in arms will whisper, ‘ Soft, lie the sod upon thy 
breast, Frank Templeton!’ 

“It will be gratifying to many, I trust indeed, to all, to hear 
that a few hours before his death, he was, at his own request, 
baptized ,in the faith which he had always revered. His clear 
and firm response to the question: ‘Dost thou believe all the 
Articles of the Christian Faith ? ’ the touching humility of his 
repentance, and his deep ‘ Amen! ’ to the prayers which com¬ 
mended his soul to Almighty God, will not, by those who witnessed 
the affecting rite, be soon forgotten. 


110 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


“ Farewell to thee, noble and generous youth! With the setting 
sun, to-day, we shall say to thee a long farewell. Alas, to how 
many such have we said that last farewell, upon these war-stricken, 
fever-smitten hills!—all the more dear to us for those sad and 
noble memories.’’ 

REV. HENRY ADAMS THOMPSON, D. D. 

H. A. Thompson, the son of John and Lydia Thompson, was 
born, March 23d, 183T, on a farm, in Centre County, Pa. His 
father was a Quaker, his mother, a Methodist. When about four¬ 
teen years of age, Henry was converted at a camp-meeting, held 
on the edge of his father’s farm, by the United Brethren in 
Christ, and he then connected himself with that body, and still 
continues in their fellowship. In his early days, he worked on 
the farm in the Summers, and went to school in the Winters. 
After spending two years at an academy, at Pine Grove Mills, 
Pa., he was prepared to enter Jefferson College in ’55. Having 
completed his collegiate course, he attended, for two terms, the 
Western Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, at 
Allegheny. In his first Summer vacation, he had charge of an 
academy at Mooreville, Pa., and in his next, at Ligonier, Pa. In 
1860, he taught at Marion and Noblesville, Indiana. The next 
year, he was Professor of Mathematics, at Western College, Iowa, 
a school of his denomination. In 1862, and the five years ensuing, 
he held the same position in Otterbein University, Westerville, 
Ohio. In 1867, and for four years after, he was Superintendent 
of the Public Schools of Troy, Ohio. In 1871, he was Professor 
of Mathematics, in Westfield College, Illinois. Since 1872, he 
has been President of Otterbein University, in Ohio, a flourishing 
institution, having 216 students, 12 instructors, and several 
departments. 

Looked at, when seated at his desk at Otterbein, busy with 
lines, triangles, squares, circles, and equations, lost in bewildering 
calculations, one might have supposed that the Professor cared 
more for the abstract than the concrete, and that there was nothing: 
of the emotional or aesthetic in his nature. But judge not too 
hastily, nor by appearances merely. There is a young lady, six 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


Ill 


miles away, a teacher of drawing and painting in a female semi¬ 
nary, in whom the man of figures is deeply interested. He 
admired her pictures at first, and then he owned to a special admi¬ 
ration for the artist herself. In the Fall of 1862, he was married 
to Miss Harriet E. Copeland, at Delaware, Ohio. In his album 
are the pictures of three children,—two daughters and a son. 
The eldest is a member of the graduating class at Otterbein. 

Dr. Thompson is one of the leaders of the Prohibition party. 
He has been a candidate for Congress, for the office of Lieutenant- 
Governor, and the office of Governor in Ohio. In 1880 he was a 
candidate for the office of Vice-President of the United States. 
But his friends have not had the pleasure of congratulating him 
on his election to either of the. offices named. 

The degree of D. D. was conferred upon Mr. Thompson, in 
1873, by Washington and Jefferson College. In 1881, he was 
sent as a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of the Methodist 
Church, at London, and at that time he made a tour through 
Europe and the Orient. He has published a little book entitled, 
Schools of the Prophets , and a collection of addresses under the 
title, The Power of the Invisible. Foreign travel reduced the 
Doctor’s weight from 225 to 192 pounds. In height, he is 6 
feet scant. 

Dr. Thompson was Chairman of the National Prohibition Con¬ 
vention in 1876, and has been Chairman of the Ohio State Com¬ 
mittee since 1878, and President of the National Prohibition 
Alliance since its organization in September, 1877. 

When the Doctor is elected President, or Vice-President of the 
United States, on the anti-liquor, anti-tobacco ticket, the surviv¬ 
ing members of the Class of ’58 will claim relationship, and go in 
a body to the National Capital to attend his inauguration; and as 
he will know the correctness of our habits by the sweetness of our 
breath, it is certain that he will not overlook us in the distribution 
of his official favors. “There’s a good time coming, boys.” We 
will struggle along till then. 

The Doctor is a learned and influential man, and has a generous 
heart and noble principles. The class is honored by his excellent 
character and successful career. 


112 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


EDWARD NEVINS TODD, Esq. 

Edward N. Todd, the son of George and Catharine Nevins 
Todd, was born at Salisbury, Md., October 20th, 1839. He pur¬ 
sued bis preparatory studies at an academy in bis native town, and 
entered our class, at Jefferson, when we were Juniors. He made 
choice of the legal profession, and, having studied law, was ad¬ 
mitted to the bar, in Salisbury, in 1862. Sympathizing with the 
people of the South in their struggle for independence, he enlisted 
in the Confederate Army, in a regiment known as Curry’s Dra¬ 
goons, of Alabama, soon after he had been admitted to the bar. 
While on a scouting expedition near Perryville, Ky., he received 
a gun-shot wound in the abdomen, and was taken first to a hospital 
in Perryville, and was afterwards removed to the house of a Pres¬ 
byterian minister in that place, where he died November 29th, 
1862, about seven months after he had enlisted. His friends 
think that he was not properly cared for by the Federal surgeons. 
Before he died, he was visited by his eldest brother, Dr. S. W. 
Todd, who took his remains to Salisbury, Md., where they were 
buried in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church. His death 
occurred four years and three months after he had finished his 
college course. He was not married. Edward was a young man 
of bright intellect, friendly and pleasant in his manners, kind and 
generous in his nature, and possessed of good moral principles. 
On account of his noble qualities, he was beloved by his class¬ 
mates and highly esteemed by the people of Salisbury, who had 
known him from his boyhood. That wound, received in battle, 
ended a life that gave promise of usefulness and distinction. Dr. 
F. M. Slemons, says: “He was for several years a member of the 
Presbyterian Church and a consistent Christian. His character 
was always good, and his life becoming a gentleman. He was 
kind, affectionate, and devoted to his family and friends. He was 
an admirer of the South and its cause, for which he sacrificed his 
life. He died lamented and mourned by many of his comrades 
and associates here, who, like myself, followed him to his early 
and honorable grave.” From long and intimate acquaintance, at 
home and college, Dr. Slemons knew the worth of the deceased— 
as a brave soldier, a true friend, and a good man. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


113 


REV. CHARLES DE WITT TRUMBULL. 

C. De W. Trumbull, the son of John King and Laura Dun¬ 
bar Trumbull, was born April 4th, 1837, in Craftsburg, Orleans 
County, Vermont, of which State his parents were natives. His 
father, an industrious farmer, early taught him to work, and yet 
gave him an opportunity to acquire a good common-school educa¬ 
tion. In 1851 the family emigrated from Vermont and settled in 
the vicinity of Northwood, Logan County, Ohio. Near their new 
home was located an institution known as Geneva College, into 
which he entered and where he remained as a student until June, 
1857, with the exception of one year when he worked with his 
father on the farm. In the Fall of 1857 he entered the Senior 
Class at Canonsburg. 

After his graduation he taught four months in a common school, 
and served four terms as a Professor in Geneva College. During 
this period he gave some attention to theology, reciting privately 
to his pastor, Rev. Wm. Milroy. In November, 1860, he entered 
the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Presbyterian Church 
in Allegheny. He finished his theological course in March, 1863, 
was licensed to preach in April, and began pastoral work at the 
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Lind Grove, Des Moines 
County, Iowa, in December. After ten years and four months 
of successful service at Lind Grove, he became pastor of a church 
of his denomination at Morning Sun, Iowa, only eight miles dis¬ 
tant from his former charge, and there he has labored effectively 
ever since. During his pastorate of nine years at Morning Sun, 
150 members have been added to the church. 

His home is in a prairie town of about 1,000 inhabitants, a large 
majority of whom are Prohibitionists. Dr. Thompson’s Presi¬ 
dential prospects look very bright at Morning Sun. From that 
point, with the aid of a good telescope, he might be able to catch 
a glimpse of the White House,—dim and distant, but delight¬ 
some! 

When Mr. Trumbull was a student at “the School of the 
Prophets,” in Allegheny, his attention was divided, we will not 
say equally, between his Professor of Theology and the Professor’s 


114 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


amiable daughter. About a year after he entered the ministry, 
wedding cards were issued, bearing his name and that of Miss 
Mary M. Sproull, daughter of Rev. Thos. Sproull, D. D., and 
inviting their friends to witness the ceremony on the 8th of June, 
1864. Their union has been blessed with six children, two sons 
and four daughters, all of whom live to give joy to their parents. 

In 1878, Mr. Trumbull was unanimously elected Moderator of 
the Synod, the highest court of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

The ex-Moderator weighs 145 pounds, and is 5 ft. 8 in. in 
height. 

CAPT. ROBERT HALL WHITE, M. D. 

Robert H. White was the Valedictorian of our class. He 
shared with Robert B. Patterson, the first honor in a class num¬ 
bering 87, of whom 78 received diplomas. His father was Rev. 
Robert M. White, a graduate of Amherst College, and of Prince¬ 
ton Theological Seminary, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of 
Fairview, Va., and afterwards, of Chartiers Presbyterian Church, 
near Canonsburg, Pa., and Professor of Rhetoric in Jefferson 
College, for a short time before his death. His grandfather, the 
Rev. Robert White, was pastor of Fagg’s Manor Presbyterian 
Church, in Chester County, Pa., within whose bounds, Rev. John 
McMillan,. H. D., the pioneer preacher of Western Pennsylvania, 
and the founder of Chartiers Church, and of the famous Log 
Cabin School, was born and reared. His father was married, 
January 1st, 1838, to Miss Ellen Morrison Davis, second daughter 
of Mr. Stephen Davis, of Baltimore, Md. She was a niece of 
Rev. Reuben H. Davis, Principal of Belair Academy, Harford 
County, Md. From these statements, it will be seen that Robt. 
H. White was favored with a pious and intelligent ancestry. He 
was born at Fairview, Va., December 29th, 1839. 

Until 1848, when he completed his ninth year, Robert was 
instructed at home by his parents. After that, he was a pupil 
for three years, at the High School, at Fairview, Va., and for the 
same length of time, attended the High School, at Cumberland, 
Va. Endowed with fine intellectual powers, favored with good 
educational advantages, and being a diligent student, he was fully 



JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


115 


prepared to enter the Freshman Class, at Jefferson, in 1854, and 
able to take rank with the foremost, and maintain a high standing 
to the end of the four years’ course. 

Close application to study, impaired Mr. White’s health, and 
he found it necessary to rest and recruit for two years after he 
left college. It was expected by some that, like his father and 
grandfather, he would be a minister of the gospel; and others 
supposed that he would adopt the legal profession; but he decided 
to devote himself to the healing art. In 1864, he graduated in 
medicine, at the University of New York, where he had been a 
student for four years. After walking the hospitals of New York 
City for one year, he joined the medical staff of the regular army, 
and has retained his commission ever since. He is now a mem¬ 
ber of the Military Staff of the United States Military Academy, 
at West Point, N. Y., and is Assistant Surgeon, with the rank of 
Captain. 

Dr. White is so wedded to his profession, that he has not taken 
time to woo and wed one of those very fascinating maidens who 
visit the Summer camp, at West Point, to witness the drills and 
parades, and who attend the evening hops, arrayed in gorgeous 
attire, and trip “ the light fantastic ” with the cadets, thus assisting 
the professors in imparting a kind of knowledge so essential to a 
complete military education. Emergencies may arise in warfare, 
when a lively motion of their legs may prevent “the boys in 
blue” from falling into the hands of the enemy. 

If the Captain will only skirmish a little, and then boldly ad¬ 
vance, he might capture a bright, pretty, pious heiress, and be 
happy for life. “Uncle Sam” will not object to having such an 
addition made to the Military Staff at West Point. 

Our Surgeon has traveled extensively through Europe, Mexico, 
Canada, and the United States, and has not only gained much 
useful information thereby, but improved his health. He weighs 
148 pounds, and is 5 ft. 8 inches in height. 


REV. JAMES SKILES WOODBURN. 

James S. Woodburn, the son of Skiles and Margaret Mc- 
Keehan Woodburn, was born on a farm, near Big Spring, 



116 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Cumberland County, Pa., October 29th, 1837. At a good old age, 
and after well-spent lives, his parents were called away in 1878, the 
father in July, and the mother in December. For a period of 
forty years, his father was an elder in the United Presbyterian 
Church, of Big Spring. From early childhood, James, the 
youngest of the boys, and next to the youngest of a family of 
seven, suffered from an irreducible dislocation of the right shoul¬ 
der, and this circumstance has had its influence upon his subse¬ 
quent life. Unfitted for hard labor on the farm, he was sent to 
school, that he might enjoy the advantages of a liberal education. 
In 1852, he entered Big Spring Academy, at Newville, Pa., and 
passed to an academy, at Fayetteville, Pa., in the Spring of 1855, 
and in the Fall of that year, entered the Sophomore Class, at 
Canonsburg. 

In the Autumn of 1858, after his graduation, he took charge 
of a flourishing school, at Callensburg, Clarion County, Pa. In 
the school, his labors were exhausting, but in addition to the work 
of instruction, he undertook a course of private reading marked 
out for him by Prof. John Frazer. Impaired health and dis¬ 
tressing nervous prostration, lasting for several years, resulted 
from over-work, and he was obliged to give up his school. Not 
long after, he began to prepare for the ministry. For a while, he 
studied Hebrew and theology, under Dr. John T. Pressly, and 
church history, under Dr. David B. Kerr, and in the Fall of 
1859, entered the United Presbyterian Seminary, in the class 
with some of his college classmates, and continued his studies 
until Christmas, 1861, when he left the Seminary on account of 
ill health. He had been licensed, eight months previously, by 
the Presbytery of Monongahela. After leaving the Seminary, 
he worked for a period on his father’s farm, with great benefit to 
himself. In May, 1864, he became pastor of the United Presby¬ 
terian Church, at Gettysburg, Pa. The next year, he took charge 
of a mission in New York, on Third Avenue and 44th Street, a 
part of the city largely populated by Germans. 

While engaged in missionary work in New York, a change took 
place in his views on the subject of psalmody, and this led him 
to leave the denomination in which he was brought up. 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


117 


In 1866 he united with the Presbyterian Church and became a 
member of the Presbytery of Carlisle; in connection with which 
he remained fifteen years, employed about half of that time as 
pastor of the Church at Dickinson, Pa., and during the latter 
years serving as an Evangelist. In 1881 he became pastor of the 
Churches of Livermore and Blacklick, in the Presbytery of 
Blairsville. In April last, he gave up his charge at Blacklick, 
but still continues to serve the Church at Livermore, Westmore¬ 
land County, Pa. 

Mr. Woodburn left the Seminary an invalid, matrimonially 
inclined, thinking of a home on this side of Jordan, and of one 
to preside over it, who would minister to him. It was Miss Mary 
K. Dilts, of Ringow, N. J. They were married on his 25th birth¬ 
day, October 29th, 1862. Looking in at his door now, we see 
the happy parents surrounded by nine promising children, two 
sons and seven daughters. Let the bachelors make note of this. 

At his rural home, he finds a pleasant recreation in raising bees, 
an employment at which he is an expert. If you would like to 
get a first-class stinger to pursue and torment your enemy, or 
some choice honey to please the loved ones at home, he can supply 
you at a reasonable price. 

With Mr. Woodburn’s name ends the roll of the Class. He is 
last, but not least; for he weighs 250 pounds, and is 6 ft. in 
height. 


Several of the members of our class left Canonsburg with evident 
reluctance, each saying to a sad-looking maiden whom he held by 
the hand—“ You will hear from me frequently, and perhaps see 
me soon.” Among those young men we noticed Loyal Graham, 
Samuel Holliday, Wm. Alexander, James Stewart, and James 
Barr. True to their word, they returned, and married the 
maidens whom they loved. 

Of the members of the Class of 1858, Jefferson College, thirty- 
five became preachers of the gospel, namely: William Alexander, 
Samuel Alexander, Barclay, Barr, Collier, Condit, Cowden, 
Dickson, Dobbins, Donaldson, Ewing, Gamble, Graham, Hervey, 



118 


HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1858, 


Holcomb, Holliday, Hooper, Hughes, Irwin, Jobnston, Lowrie, 
McMillin, Martin, Mowry, Nesbitt, Pauli, Schneider, N. H. 
Smith, Sproull, Starrett, R. C. Stewart, Taylor, Thompson, 
Trumbull, and Woodburn. Four of the preachers became foreign 
missionaries, namely: Barr, Holcomb, Pauli, and Schneider. 
Jones was a student of theology. Seven became editors, namely: 
Wm. Alexander, Alden, Mcllvaine, Nevin, Schneider, Sproull, 
and Starrett after he gave up the ministry. Six became doctors 
and surgeons, namely: Hawkins, Hultz, Moore, Noble, Slemons, 
and White. Fulton became a dentist. Seventeen became lawyers, 
namely: Alden, Cunningham, Hill, Hunt, Jenks, Kerr, McClaren, 
McCombs, McCormick, McKown, McHenry, Massey, Orr, Pat¬ 
terson, Templeton, Todd, and Starrett after he had quit journal¬ 
ism. Many engaged in teaching, among whom may be mentioned 
Wm. and Samuel Alexander, Craighead, Cully, Donaldson, 
Dickson, Fulton, Hervey, Irwin, Jenks, Johnston, McConahy, 
Mcllvaine, McKown, McNite, Means, Niblock, Simpson, Jas. A. 
Stewart, N. H. Smith, J. N. Smith, Starrett, Thompson, and 
Trumbull. Our list of business men includes the names of Dun¬ 
lap, Hunt, Kelly, Means, McConahy, Pollock, and Templeton. 
A number changed their profession or occupation. During the 
war, Donaldson, Hill, Hughes, Kerr, McHenry, and Nevin were 
in the Northern Army, and McKown, Templeton, and Todd in 
the Southern. Doctors Hawkins, Hultz, and Noble were with 
the Union soldiers, Dr. Moore was with the Confederates, and 
Dr. White is now serving as Assistant-Surgeon at the U. S. 
Military Academy, at West Point, N. Y. 

In their several walks of life, the members of the Jefferson 
Class of 1858 have acquitted themselves like men. All have 
been usefully and honorably employed. So far as we know, not 
one, by any criminal act, has brought disgrace upon himself or 
dishonor upon his college. Some have accumulated wealth. Some 
have wielded a powerful influence over the minds of their fellow- 
men by their voice or pen. Some exhibited their courage and 
devotion upon the field of battle; others laid down their lives in 
the peaceful service of Christ. Some have alleviated the suffer¬ 
ings and lightened the woes of humanity. Some have pleaded 


JEFFERSON COLLEGE. 


119 


for justice for the innocent, and mercy for the guilty. Some have 
been faithful and untiring in imparting wholesome instruction to 
their numerous pupils. Some have obtained distinction, wdiile 
others, perhaps no less talented, have passed their days in enjoy¬ 
able retirement. The effect upon the w r orld of the example, the 
thought, the words, and the labors of the seventy-three men who 
left the halls of Jefferson twenty-five years ago, can neither be 
estimated nor imagined. But that the world is the better for 
what they have done, there is no doubt. 

As ours is the largest class that ever left Jefferson College, 
may our influence for good be greater than that of any other. 

The earthly career of sixteen of our number is ended. With 
sorrow of heart, we think of the departed, cut down in the vigor 
of manhood, when surrounded by those who loved them, wdiile 
engaged in useful pursuits and giving promise of rich fruitage in 
future years. May those of us who survive, admonished of the 
uncertainty of life, resolve to increase our diligence in the attain¬ 
ment of every lofty and noble purpose. May we be unwearied in 
our efforts to reform the customs and correct the errors of the 
people, to purify the sources of political power, to promote intelli¬ 
gence, truth, justice, morality, and religion in the world. May 
we put away from ourselves, and strive to persuade others to put 
away, all things that are hateful and hurtful. May our daily 
actions be in accordance with the will of our Creator, in harmony 
with the blessed precepts of Christ. May we be lovers of peace, 
purity, honesty, temperance, freedom, and human rights. May 
we encourage industry, art, science, and philosophy. To the ut¬ 
most of our ability, may we serve our country, our race, our God. 
And when done with the toils and trials of earth, may we have a 
happy, an endless, a glorious re-union in that bright and beautiful 
world where the good only dwell. Till then, dear classmates, 
farewell. 


ADDRESS 


BY COL. H. R. HILL, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO, AT QUARTER- 
CENTENNIAL RE-UNION OF JEFFERSON COLLEGE CLASS 
OF 1858, AT WASHINGTON, PENN A., JUNE 20th, 1883. 


On the 4th of August, 1858, seventy-three of us left the halls of 
Jefferson College, with our diplomas, ready to enter the walks of 
professional life, to compete for the honors, the emoluments, the 
enjoyments that each one had, in some more or less vague way, 
pictured to himself as being within the possible reach of his un¬ 
tried capabilities. We may all remember of having entertained 
“great expectations,” as to the future of this or that member of 
the class, however uncertain we may have been as to our own in¬ 
dividual prospects of success. How important each one of us 
would have then deemed an answer to the inquiry: “What has 
the future in store for each member of this large class? ” A period 
of twenty-five years has not removed the interest in that inquiry. 
It is the rare privilege and pleasure of many members of the class to 
meet here to-day, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, after hav¬ 
ing been tossed by different tides and in different directions over the 
sea of life, to listen to a partial answer. The class, of course, soon 
became widely scattered. Its members occasionally meeting each 
other under unlooked-for circumstances and in unlooked-for por¬ 
tions of the country. “As ships meet at sea, a moment together, when 
w T ords of greeting have been spoken, and then away into the deep.” 

It is not strange that this should have suggested itself as a 
proper time, and this as the proper place for our meeting together, 
to exchange greetings, to again join hands that have not been 
clasped since we separated so long ago. Gratifying as this Re¬ 
union must have appeared to our anticipations, we must not forget 
that no expectation is more frequently disappointed than that which 
arises in the mind from the prospect of meeting an old friend after 


120 



ADDRESS OF COL. H. R. HILL. 


121 


a long separation. We expect the attraction to be revived and the 
coalition to be renewed. No man sufficiently considers how much 
alteration time has made in himself, and very few will have fully 
inquired what effect it has had upon others. The first hour may 
convince that the pleasure that was formerly enjoyed is forever 
at an end; different scenes, different objects and pursuits have 
made different impressions; the opinions of both are found to be 
changed, and that similitude of manners and sentiment is lost, 
which confirmed both in the appreciation and approbation of each 
other. While this disappointment may be experienced, there will, 
perhaps, be found a compensation in discovering a new and unex¬ 
pected congeniality on the part of others, whose names sound so 
strikingly familiar when associated with the never-to-be-forgotten 
roll. And how the mere calling of that roll seems to carry us 
back to the meeting together in prayer hall, to the different reci¬ 
tation rooms; how distinctly the faces of the faculty appear before 
us. It requires no effort of the memory to arrange the class 
around the room, and to recall a recitation to Dr. Alden ; to listen 
to his interesting and learned exposition of the Science of Govern¬ 
ment ; to his clear lectures on Mental and Moral Science, which 
we can appreciate now even more fully than we did then. We can 
still, in imagination, listen to the kindly voice of Dr. Smith, and 
recall the applause with which we greeted some traditional pun 
that we had learned from our predecessors to expect when certain 
points in the Greek text were reached. We can never forget the 
critical and exacting recitations in Latin that Dr. Williams re¬ 
quired of us, nor the very practical instruction in the Natural 
Sciences that we received from Prof. Jones—“Semper Paratus,” 
—nor the zeal, fervor, and eloquence of Prof. Fraser’s digressions 
from the subject of the recitation during the hour in mathematics. 
How plainly all this passes before us, almost as though it were but 
yesterday. And yet, what a step from then till now . What 
mighty events have transpired. How much of history has been 
written. What discoveries and inventions have been made. What 
progress in the affairs of mankind. What developments in the 
arts and sciences. What changes in the civilization and geography 
of the world. What part in these important affairs has been 


122 


ADDRESS OF COL. II. R. KILL. 


taken by the Class of ’58 ? Any one of these suggestions would 
be a sufficient topic for an address, but I shall take no special 
theme, and shall attempt no methodical or formal discourse. We 
have only met to enjoy a brief, but grateful episode, amidst the 
toils and cares which duty, or inclination, or necessity have thrown 
around us; we have come together merely to recall the past, to 
meet each other once again, to bring the light of other days around 
us, to enkindle again in memory some of the fervor of life’s morn¬ 
ing march, to recall reminiscences of our youthful hopes and school- 
day fancies, and my only effort shall be to try to prevent the 
formal part of this quarter-centennial anniversary, to which I 
have been assigned, from becoming tedious. 

The Class of ’58 left college at a period when mighty events 
were pending; when the scales of the political destiny of the 
country were poised, and the eyes of the world were growing dim 
and its heads were becoming dizzy watching the doubtful balance. 
The enemies of human liberty abroad, and the conspirators against 
the National Government at home, believed that the great Republic 
was about to perish. Agencies of mischief and ruin were put in 
motion. “ The government of the people, for the people, and by 
the people,” was about to be swept out of existence; but the free¬ 
men of the nation aroused, clothed themselves in the garments of 
war, and went forth to the field of strife. They smote the Dagon 
of Slavery, so that he died in the very temple dedicated to his 
worship. They broke the fetters of four millions of bondmen and 
bondwomen, and made them free. They restored free government 
and national unity, and they placed the manhood and courage of 
the people of the Union, on grounds that will tempt none here¬ 
after to engage in war with the expectation that they will not find 
ready and prompt resistance. Liberty and equal rights for all 
were triumphantly maintained. It is most strange, and yet it is 
true, that this gigantic civil war that commenced and terminated 
since we left our college doors, is now, to public apprehension and 
memory, almost as distant as the Revolution. The contest itself, 
with all its wonderful sacrifices and astonishing incidents, is ob¬ 
scured by the apparently more common-place political and social 
events of the passing years, during all of which there has been 


ADDRESS OF COL. H. R. HILL. 


123 


quietly going forward a series of discoveries, inventions, and social 
improvements, a system of personal training, an enlargement of 
the range of human thought, an amelioration of morals, and, I 
may say, a growth of personal piety, which, all together, let us 
hope, represent the coming of the Kingdom of God. 

Our minds naturally tend to a review of the work of the years 
intervening between then and now, and to dwell upon what has been 
accomplished. Aside from the war, and the great events con¬ 
nected with it and flowing out of it, the general diffusion of 
knowledge among all classes of people during the last quarter of 
a century, is one of the features of advancement that attracts our 
attention. Schools without number, of every class and grade, 
have been established, and are supported throughout the land, 
scattering their salutary influences far and wide. These are 
proving nurseries of knowledge, in which youthful minds are 
being disciplined, and from which they come forth, better than 
ever before, prepared to meet the growing wants and increasing 
obligations of free citizens of this free Republic. The general 
diffusion of knowledge has led to free inquiry on all subjects, 
whatever may be their nature or character. Every principle of 
government, every law of development and progress, every dogma 
of whatever kind or character has been alike subject to intelli¬ 
gent scrutiny, and if it has been found to rest not upon a reliable 
and trustworthy basis, if not in consonance with truth and reason, 
it has been rejected. Error, although it may have had the sanc¬ 
tion of ages, and have been environed by all the trappings that 
the ingenuity of man could devise, has been attacked in its 
intrenchments, and been made to quail before the shafts of truth. 
Error, although it may be new and attractive, and be presented 
in the most alluring form, and appeal to human inclinations 
through the flowery and persuasive words, and seductive and pow¬ 
erful voice of gifted eloquence, falls harmless before the beams of 
truth and the light of knowledge. The idea, that truth can be 
injured, or error subserved by free and full investigation, can no 
longer find a response in the public mind. Acting in consonance 
with these views, and having nothing to prevent the free and full 
expression of opinion, more perfect freedom of thought and more 


124 


ADDRESS OF COL. H. R. HILL. 


real mental progress have been eliminated than ever before, in 
double the period, in any previous age of the world. 

The necessaries^ the comforts, and the luxuries of life have, 
within this period, come to be produced in unparalleled profusion. 
Nature, more than ever before, has been laid under contribution; 
her most abstruse principles have been made especially subservient 
to the interests of humanity. Human ingenuity has appropri¬ 
ated to the practical wants of enterprise and labor, the discoveries 
of the scientist, the mysteries of the laboratory, and the knowl¬ 
edge of the student. New principles in the construction of 
machinery have been applied. Man has called upon the unwea¬ 
ried powers of nature to bear his burdens, and they have obeyed. 
Wherever power has been found, measures have been taken to use 
it—saving the sweat, the tension of muscle, the very blood itself 
of human labor. Civilization has been advanced by the lessening, 
and the elevation of human labor. Never before, have the teach¬ 
ings of science been so fully understood, and so generally applied 
to the various departments of industry. Wherever there has ap¬ 
peared to be a necessity for the application of a principle for any 
special purpose, the demand has been quickly met, and scarcely 
any-anticipation so sanguine as not to have been speedily realized. 
Art has been called to assist nature. The pen has eclipsed the 
tongue. A great orator arises in Congress, or in Parliament. 
Every word, as it falls from his lips, is caught and written down. 
The same evening, or the next morning, the press has given wings 
to his thoughts, and they kindle the minds of every civilized na¬ 
tion upon earth. He addresses not merely an audience of a few 
hundred, but the intelligent millions of the enlightened world. 

Thousands are now instructed, where one was formerly. An 
unprecedented demand for useful information is everywhere made. 
Through the instrumentality of the improved press, and the 
modern appliances of swift conveyance, mind speaks to mind, in¬ 
forming, educating, teaching. The whole family of man is brought 
together in close communion. A force may emanate from the 
closet of the poorest student that may revolutionize an empire. 

How much more can be accomplished by those whose active 
existence is but beginning, by the present graduating class of 


ADDRESS OF COL. H. R. HILL. 


125 


Washington and Jefferson College, than could have been per¬ 
formed by one who commenced twenty-five years ago! The multi¬ 
plied facilities of intercourse, and the cunningly abbreviated 
methods of doing everything at the present day, have introduced 
extraordinary dispatch into all the operations of life, and increased 
largely the active power of each individual. When we stop, on 
an occasion like this, and look around us, and specially behold 
the strong agents of improvement, acting, at the present, with 
greater energy than ever, and producing every day still more 
wonderful results, and look back a quarter of a century, we are 
filled with wonder and astonishment. The change has been 
greater than we knew! 

Electric nerves envelop the earth. Distance has become anni¬ 
hilated. Man speaks to be heard in audible voice, by whomever 
he may address, wherever these wiry nerves may lead, and reply 
is at once whispered back to his ear, without his having to leave 
his office chair. But, why particularize? To what end would 
this train of thought lead us? 

May we inquire again, what part, in this grand march, has 
been taken by the Class of ’58? We think we can answer, that 
it has kept near the front. Perhaps many of its best members 
may have labored in obscure fields, but who can estimate the 
widespread and important influences that may have emanated 
from their faithful work. All honor in the church, in the home, 
in the world, in the battle-fields of truth and right, to those of 
the class whose genius and whose mission it has been to take front 
rank and stand highest in their various avocations; but to the 
rank and file of the class, who may not always have won the 
laurels of earth, whose positions may be less striking and brilliant 
than that of the inspirers and the leaders—not less may they be 
among the Lord’s anointed. Some of the most precious quali¬ 
ties of a true manhood may go to make up their characters. 
They may have learned at least one of the great methods of 
winning victories, under the Great Captain of all Salvation. 
And, when the end comes, and the laurels, which are to last for 
the eternal years, are given out, the Lord of the whole earth, 
whose cause they have stood by here, will stand in turn by them; 


126 


ADDRESS OF COL. H. R. HILL. 


and out of remote churches, distant mission fields, and wearisome 
work, and long years of faithful service in the paths of duty, they 
shall be called up to the front ranks of honor, and be steady, 
potent, consistent workers still, close up to the eternal throne. 

It is not the brilliant orators, the dashing leaders, the restless 
radicals, nor the men who can draw after them the attention of 
the multitude, but the sturdy, consistent, patient and laborious 
men, who, in sleet and rain, as well as in calm and sunshine, pur¬ 
sue the even tenor of their way, who constitute the element by 
virtue of which reforms succeed. Steadfastness, fidelity, the 
power and pluck of persistent, conscientious work, these are the 
qualities that lie at the core of all progress. 

One more inquiry. Where will the next quarter of a century 
find us? The answer may not be so uncertain, or fraught with 
such eager, anxious interest, as when asked twenty-five years ago. 
We will leave here this afternoon and life will continue to bear us 
on, like the stream of Paul Dombey’s dark river. The trees will 
continue to shed their blossoms over our heads. Fruits and flowers 
on the brink may seem to offer themselves to our hands. We may 
grasp at attractions and beauties around us, but the stream will 
hurry on and our hands remain as empty as now. The stream 
will continue to bear us on. Our landmarks will be gradually 
left behind us; we cannot anchor; our voyage may be hastened, 
but it cannot be delayed; whether rough or smooth, the river of 
time will carry us onward, till the roaring of the ocean will be in 
our ears, and the tossing of the waves will be beneath our keel, 
and the lands will lessen from our eyes and the floods be lifted 
around us, and we will take our last leave of earth, and of our 
further voyage there will be no witness but the Infinite and Eter¬ 
nal, and when the last great haven is reached, may our final 
re-union there be complete and unbroken. 





















































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